It’s interesting how faith is often relegated to the spiritual realm but real objective thinking is based on facts.  In my science courses in college I remember the emphasis on verifiable facts and then I took quantum mechanics and I learned about “Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle” and realized that science is not as certain as we think it is.  We long for certainty because it gives us a feeling of understanding, safety, and control – the problem is that’s not a true picture of life.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians through some difficult times as he wrote, “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  There are circumstances in life that we don’t understand, we do not feel safe, and we have no control over the situation.  If we choose to walk by sight we may feel anxious and fearful, but if we choose to walk by faith we realize there is a power greater than ourselves.

What is faith?  The writer of Hebrews describes it this way, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  The word “assurance” conveys the idea of confidence.  We also see that faith is that which is unseen – if I can see it then it’s not faith.   

Is faith important?  The passage continues on, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).  In the Gospels we see that Jesus did not rebuke His disciples for making mistakes but He did chastise them for their lack of faith. 

How do you develop this type of faith?  Romans 10:17 provides the answer, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Faith is a deliberate confidence in God even when you don’t understand your situation.  Faith is realizing that even though you do not see God you know that He sees you.  Author Anne Lamott writes, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty.”  Don’t seek after certainty when you can have faith!  Oswald Chambers concludes, “Faith is not a faculty, faith is the whole man rightly related to God by the power of the Spirit of Jesus.”   Are you looking for certainty when you need to be developing your faith?