For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
This post may contain affiliate links where I am paid a small commission from purchases through the link.
We exhibit faith many times in our everyday life.  When we sit in a chair, we have faith that the chair will hold us up. When we step on an airplane, we trust this fuel-powered tube and an accomplished pilot will get us to our destination without crashing into the earth. We get in our car to drive across town and believe it will be without incident and we’ll return to our home safely.`
Most important faith
But what about faith in God? How does that kind of faith benefit us and how can we have more of it?
Faith in God is not only trusting Him for things we want, it’s the belief that He’s working things for our good behind the scenes as well. Sometimes it’s through situations we don’t understand or even like at the time. When we look back, we often see where the hand of God provided for us and protected us from harm.
I grew up in a rural section of western Kentucky. We lived on a small farm and raised pigs, some cows, and a few other crops almost every year. My mom and dad put out a big vegetable garden each spring, allowing us to enjoy plenty of fresh vegetables during the summer months. Many evenings right before dinner my mom would send me out to the garden to pull a fresh onion or a ripe tomato to eat along with our meal.
As a child, however, I never really appreciated the farm-fresh vegetables right at my back door. My favorite meal was when payday came around, and Mama would go to the store to get potted meat for sandwiches on soft white bread, with fresh mayonnaise, Lay’s potato chips, and Pepsi Cola! What? Does anybody even eat potted meat anymore and what the heck is in it anyway?
Unfortunately, I didn’t have faith back then that the organically grown fresh vegetables were doing my body a lot of good and would help keep me healthy throughout my life. If I had, I would have enjoyed them and simple country living much more instead of constantly thinking about when I could escape to the big city.
We’re sometimes like my cat, Shalom. He loves to go out at night and prowl. Then he’ll come in and sleep most of the day. However, when the temperature drops below freezing, I don’t want him to go out. On those nights, I lock him upstairs so he doesn’t disturb our sleep. He fights me a little, but then in the morning when he sticks his nose out, he immediately brings it back in, realizing that it’s cold out there. Hopefully, he then knows that I was just protecting him by keeping him inside. As his master, I know more than he does what’s best for him. Likewise, just as parents know what’s best for their children, our heavenly Father knows what’s best for us.
Faith benefits
Faith in God benefits us in many ways. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his followers not to worry about what they eat, drink, or wear, because our heavenly Father provides for us just like he does the sparrows. Of course, he didn’t mean we shouldn’t work for a living. That principle was established back in Genesis (Genesis 3:19). However, we can toil the earth and plant the seeds, but it’s God that brings forth the fruit. He is our ultimate provider.
Faith versus worry
Faith is the opposite of worry. We live in a world where anxiety is rampant. Sure, there is a lot to fear and worry about in this life, but as crazy as it is out there, God still asks us to trust Him.
I remember one night back in the pandemic. I’m a naturally optimistic person and tend to look at the bright side in every situation. However, this particular night some scary statistics were coming forth on the TV and I began to get fearful. It was not a good feeling. I made a decision right there that I was going to trust God in the matter and immediately peace replaced my anxiety.
Sometimes, faith can be as simple as a decision.
Necessary faith
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
God not only expects us to have faith, He moves on our behalf when we exhibit it.
- Jesus healed the woman with an issue of blood because she had faith enough to just touch the hem of his garment. 
- To the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair, He told her that her faith had saved her and to go in peace. (Luke 7:50)
- When Jesus healed the blind man, He told him that it was because of his faith. (Matthew 9: 20-22)
- When Jesus’ disciples asked him why they couldn’t do some of the miracles that he did, He told them that it was because of their unbelief. (Matthew 17:20)
- Jesus scolded the Pharisees because although they paid tithes, they omitted the more important matters of judgement, mercy and faith. (Matthew 23:23)
- In Deuteronomy we read where God said that He was hiding His face from the children of Israel because they had no faith in Him. (Dt. 32:20)
In Luke we read of Jesus telling Peter that He’s praying for him ‘That his faith will not fail and he will be strengthened.’ Then in the book of Acts, we witness that Jesus’ prayer has been answered because Peter is now declaring that Jesus, through faith, has made him strong. (Acts 3:16)
Every praying believer has had situations where faith in God brought about a positive change. Most recently for me was this past summer. We got a call that my nephew had been in a near-fatal car accident and that he was not expected to live. The family was called to the hospital to say their goodbyes. Prayer for Cody began to go up all throughout the family and community.
At first, the doctors said he was surely going to die and the family should begin to make plans to donate his organs.
Then they said that if he lived, he would be in a vegetative state for the remainder of his life.
But those who love Cody never gave up and lifted him up every day to our Great Healer. Because of God’ s response, we are going to celebrate Christmas with Cody this year. He’ll be at the parties, walking around, enjoying the good food, and being almost totally back to normal. It’s been a process with lots of therapy, and he still has a way to go, but his recovery is nothing less than a miracle.
How to grow faith
No matter where we are on our walk with God, we all would like our faith to be stronger. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t cast out any demons or raised any dead lately.  Faith is something that can and should continue to grow in us until God calls us home.
Thankfully, the Bible tells us how to have more faith. 
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Romans 10:17
Reading and listening to the Bible increases our faith. Our church has been reading through the Bible every year for the past four or five years. The Bible becomes much clearer when it’s read cover to cover as opposed to random scriptures.
With the new year approaching, why not challenge yourself to commit to such a plan, if you’ve never done so. You’ll discover the beautiful story of God’s plan of redemption for mankind and your life will be forever changed for the better.
There are multiple plans that you can find online that will break down the daily scripture readings for you. Here’s one from the Billy Graham association, but there are many out there, or you can devise your own.
Prayer and fasting increases faith
The book of Matthew tells a story of a man who brought his demon possessed son to the disciples for healing, but they could not heal him. Jesus told them, “Bring him to me,” and he cast the demon out and the child was immediately cured. When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy he told them that this level of faith only comes through prayer and fasting.
Like us, the disciples were still learning and growing. Reading and studying our Bible, along with praying and fasting will contribute to an increase in our faith.
Our ultimate provider
God is our provider of all things, even our faith. The Bible says that we have all been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) and He also shows us in His Word how to grow that faith. It’s a necessary tool to live a peaceful life, please God, and most importantly, it’s the doorway to our salvation.
We understand that faith is not only necessary and beneficial, it’s something we all possess. We just need to work to grow it through Bible reading, prayer and fasting. Through these efforts, faith will become a powerful force in our life.
For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20
