Faith that Grows

Faith is enduring like a mustard seed. Seeds have been recovered from the pyramids that were well over two thousand years old, and they still grew when planted. Time doesn’t diminish the effectiveness of faith. Distance doesn’t affect the power of faith. For many people, “Seeing is believing,” but we in God’s church need to remember that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Little faith

The storms of life often expose the insufficiency of our faith. It was a literal storm that got the disciples’ attention one day on the Sea of Galilee. Although several of them were experienced fishermen, the suddenness and magnitude of this storm had them all fearful of drowning. Jesus was fatigued and sleeping, but the disciples’ panic finally drove them to wake Him up. Before doing anything else, Jesus asked them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matt. 8:26). Jesus was in the boat with them. He had already told them they were going to cross to the other side. Didn’t they believe Him? People with little faith can have Jesus right there with them and still believe they are “perishing” (Luke 8:22–24).

Growing faith

People with growing faith have a different response to the difficulties of life. Paul commended the church in Thessalonica for their growing faith: “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (2 Thess. 1:3–4).

Excitement builds when your faith grows and you really begin to believe that you can trust God to see you through whatever happens in life.

Strong faith

God had promised Abraham many descendants, yet he didn’t even have an heir, and he was getting up in years. But meanwhile, Abraham was developing a strong faith in God. Paul writes: “Not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness’” (Rom. 4:19–22).

And perhaps Abraham’s faith was never stronger than after God gave him that heir, Isaac, and then asked him to sacrifice the young boy to Him. Many people read this account and wonder how any parent could respond to such a request, but an explanation is given in Hebrews:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” —Hebrews 11:17–19

Strong faith sustains hope in seemingly hopeless situations and provides strength even in our weakest moments.