Faith in a Secular World

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) 

“Hey! I think our row on the flight is empty!” 

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” 

I smiled at my friend’s comment, because in a way, she captured how most of us approach life: we’ll only believe once we’ve seen proof.

In the world we live in today, seeing is believing. We don’t allow ourselves hope, afraid of being disappointed. But what happens when we carry this mindset into our spiritual lives? Will I hold out on hoping for the best or praying until God appears to me in my sleep, reassuring me He is around? According to “seeing is believing,” that’s exactly what I would have to do. 

Fortunately, one’s spiritual life has different rules, and the rulebook rests on one thing: FAITH.  As scripture reminds us, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) 

It is difficult to put into words the security faith provides, but one thing that can certainly be said is that faith nurtures and soothes us from the inside out. Having faith means having the ability to face hard times or challenges with confidence. Not necessarily confidence in oneself, but rather the confidence that the maker of the universe will sort everything out the way it should unfold. Having faith means being able to evaluate a situation, work hard on a solution, and then submit it for divine approval with full trust that, whether or not it works out as intended, everything will be okay. Faith feels like a safety net around your heart, catching any pieces that may fall.

In the world we live in today, holding onto concepts of faith may be termed “delusion.” But to those who live a life of faith and clutch their faith firmly, it will be referred to as “power.” It is those who have faith that have experienced how God can turn weakness into strength and fear into courage. 

Knowing that God is real and cares about every second of your day immediately instills in us the idea that there is someone out there who loves us like no other. Knowing that the same God is the one who created you because He knew that this world needed someone like you instills in us a sense of purpose. Knowing that the very same God who loves you and created you also planned a life full of joy and fellowship instills in us a sense of joy. We have verbal confirmation of this in Jeremiah 29:11, which states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

For some, this promise is enough to ignite a lifetime of faith in God and His plans. But it is important to note that God, who created us, knows that it isn’t always that easy. That’s why He blesses us with the ultimate resource. Himself. We all want the benefits of faith, but it can be hard to grasp faith itself. Therefore, through prayer, we can speak to God directly, alerting Him that our faith is weak and that we want to grow in it. At the end of the day, God is a Father. And when a loving father hears his child pleading for something, He delights to give it. If you’re struggling with faith, talk to God about it. Make known your concerns, anxieties, worries, and leave the rest up to Him. By doing so, you are already exemplifying the basis of faith, which is letting God handle what you cannot. 

In addition to praying about your faith and asking God to aid you in strengthening it, you must also have faith that your prayer is heard by God. If you pray for something with faith, there is no doubt that it will appear in your life. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)  

In addition to prayer, God gives us small reminders that He is around and listening. Such reminders come in the form of small flowers on the side of the road, or all the traffic lights on your way to school being green. Regardless, if we look for them, countless signs sing of the goodness of God and show us that He is rooting for us all the way. 

Faith isn’t about seeing first — it’s about trusting first. So, the task is to TRY. Try to relinquish the mindset that “seeing is believing.” TRY to see God in the little things. TRY to trust Him completely for a day and see where it takes you. You will be pleasantly surprised at the long and beautiful journey that awaits you, and you will be shocked at His light that is now radiating off your face.