Faith is generally defined as a strong and deep conviction rooted in a firm belief expressed by complete trust, confidence, or reliance in something which may not have tangible proof.
The Bible defines faith as the assurance, the confidence, and the evidence of the things we hope for. It is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what is unseen-Hebrews 11:1.
The Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines faith as “unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; unquestioning belief in God.”
The entire Christian life is lived on the foundation of faith in God starting with our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ-Ephesians 2:8, Romans 1:17, Galatians 2:20.
Our walk with God is a lifelong faith walk. As Christians, we live by faith in our gracious and loving God whose promises are sure and true in Jesus Christ. Faith is not presumption. Our faith is not based on a probability if God exist or not. Our faith as Christians is based on the fact that God exists, He is eternal and true which makes all His promises through Jesus true and sure.
Jesus used the mustard seed to illustrate how faith in God can stir God’s power to act after the disciple’s lack of faith to heal the boy with seizures. We cannot please God without putting our faith in Him each day-Matthew 17:15, Matthew 17: 16, Matthew 17:17, Matthew 17:20, Hebrews 11:6.
Jesus told His disciples that they could not do anything for the boy with seizures because of their unbelief. He assured them that if they had faith as a mustard seed, they could move a mountain from where it was to another place, and nothing will be impossible for them. This applies to all true believers in Jesus Christ today because He is still the same yesterday, today and forever. The word of God is timeless and endures forever. We can hold on to His word in faith even in hopeless situations because His word will never fail. God is still saving lives, healing people, and changing situations for good through prayers of faith. Nothing is impossible for those who believe and trust in Him-Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:8, Mark 9:23.
The mustard seed is a small round seed of various mustard plant usually about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. Mustard seeds may be yellow white or black in color and mature mustard plants grow into shrubs. Faith grows just like the mustard seed in an ever-deepening relationship with God. We are called to walk by faith expressed by trust and confidence in God not by sight. We believe before we see and see with the “eyes” of faith the evidence the things hoped for not doubting because we know that God is beyond faithful and He cannot lie. He always does what He has promised, and His word and purpose will always be fulfilled-2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 10:23, Numbers 23:19.
Believing God for who He is and the finished work of salvation in Jesus Christ is the first step. The mustard seed kind of faith is all we need to begin our lifelong walk of faith in God. God’s plan is not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future to the eternal praise and glory of His name. Through faith in God through Jesus Christ, you can overcome every obstacle of life. The trials of life are opportunities for our faith to grow and bear fruits. The trials we face are not meant to kill our faith but to nurture our faith to become a living faith that cannot be extinguished in the face of trials or difficulties in our journey of life and faith-Jeremiah 29:11, 1 John 5:4, Lamentations 3:22.
We are reminded of God’s faithfulness each day in different ways. For instance, we wake up in the morning not knowing how our day will go yet no matter what happens in the course of the day, God comes through for us because His thoughts towards those who trust in Him are for good. God continually pours His grace on every one of us and gives us His peculiar wisdom when we ask Him in our journey of life and faith. He is our rock and the keeper of our souls. Let your mustard seed faith grow as you focus more on God not your present situation because God is waiting to have an ever-deepening relationship with you. The walk of faith is an exciting adventure with God. It not a walk of shame-Proverbs 2:8, Psalm 145: 17, Psalm 115:1.