Faith and Trust in God

Do you ever feel your faith and trust in God is lacking or you do not have any?  I know I have felt that way.  Hebrews 11:1 “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

The definition of faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  Which we know is confidence and complete trust in God.  Faith is a powerful concept; it can be defined as the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. In Philippians 1:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, we see that faith’s primary idea is trust.  It’s about believing that something is true and worthy of that trust. Faith can vary in strength, growing from mere belief to complete assurance, often shaped by our experiences and the evidence we gather along the way.

Paul emphasizes that faith comes from hearing the Word (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge plays a crucial role in developing faith; it’s the foundation upon which we can build our trust in God. This understanding became profoundly personal during a challenging time in my life.

My Mother’s Sickness

In February 2019, my mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Initially, the news threw me into a panic. How could this happen? My mother had always been so healthy. We got her into a heart specialist, where a series of tests revealed additional complications linked to her liver. The gravity of her condition began to dawn on me, and we were referred to a liver specialist who recommended biopsies.

Tragically, my mom experienced severe complications after the procedure and was admitted to the ICU. Wondering if she was going to survive was agonizing.  I prayed fervently for her recovery, but deep down, I felt overwhelmed by fear and doubt. I struggled to relinquish my worries to God, questioning whether He could truly bring her healing.

Despite my panic, God was faithful. After a blood transfusion and stabilization, my mom was discharged, but her health continued to decline. Tests eventually confirmed that she had lymphoma—a slow-growing cancer without a cure. After meeting with the Dr., he suggested doing a treatment that would build up her body.  However, the side effects were something that scared me and my family.  My mom ultimately decided to take this procedure despite the terrifying side effects, one being death.

I took her to her first treatment, and she did great.  I couldn’t take her to second treatment, so she drove herself there, with my dad at her side.  Unlike the first treatment she had major complications.  By that night and the next day, she couldn’t walk, her words were slurred, and she was very confused.  When the day before she drove herself to the treatment.  The Dr. stopped her treatment since she had ever side effect, except for death.  When I found my mom like this my heart raced with fear. Where was my faith in that moment? I was not relying on God with faith.  I prayed, but once again I had doubt that she would be ok.  When you pray, you are supposed to give it to God, but I was continually picking up this worry over and over.  Not once did I give this to God.  I thought I was, but I never truly gave it to God.

Over the next few months, her condition continued to deteriorate. By her birthday, we were hopeful for a slight recovery, but she suffered a heart attack shortly after. The emergency room doctors worked tirelessly to revive her, and once again, I was gripped by fear and despair. My prayers turned into desperate pleas, but I struggled to fully place my trust in God.  After a few days in the hospital my mom passed away.

A Crucial Turning Point

As a lifelong Christian, I realized that my relationship with God had been lukewarm.  I believed in Him, but I hadn’t truly sought Him with my whole heart. I was constantly worried, living in a state of anxiety rather than faith. Matthew 6:34 states, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.  NIV

If I would have listened to just this verse and gave over my worry to God I could have started to trust and build my faith in God and not worry so much.  Would it have changed anything other than building my trust and faith?  I don’t know, but I think it would have given me hope and peace when I was making myself sick with worry all the time.

When my mother passed away on December 16, 2019, I felt shattered. Grief engulfed me, and I cried incessantly, struggling to comprehend a life without her. It was the hardest experience I had ever faced.

Healing Through Understanding

Months later, I stumbled upon a book titled “Revelations from Heaven,” which detailed near-death experiences. The words brought peace, allowing me to grasp the reality that my mother was with Jesus, whole and free from pain. This revelation initiated a profound shift in my life. I realized I needed a genuine relationship with God, not just a belief in Him.

I began to actively seek God, incorporating prayer and Bible reading into my daily routine. Proverbs 3:5 became my mantra: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” For the first time, I truly understood this verse and knew I could no longer lean on my own understanding. I started to seek His presence daily in my life, and slowly, my faith began to grow.

My Father’s Battle with Dementia

In 2016, my father was diagnosed with dementia. After losing my mother, the thought of losing him was unbearable. I spent as much time as possible with him, witnessing the disease’s devastating effects. Despite my fears, I prayed diligently for my dad’s healing.

As I became more involved in my church community at Common Ground, I learned the importance of faith through action. I realized that faith is not just a passive belief; it requires active engagement with God. I started to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings in my life, seeking His guidance in every decision.

Stepping Out in Faith

During this period of transformation, I learned to step out in faith. One day, while worshiping at church, I felt God urging me to pray for a woman nearby. Doubt crept in as I wondered if I could truly hear His voice. Nevertheless, I took a leap of faith and approached her, explaining that I felt led to pray. As I prayed, God spoke to me and as I told her what I heard God saying she was crying.  After I finished praying, she said “how did you know that?”  I said I didn’t God told me.  Not only did this build my faith and trust, but hers too.

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith.  For truly, I say to you if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” ESV

My faith started to grow like a mustard seed and over time it got bigger.  I was listening to preaching of people being used by God.  I told God I wanted to hear his voice and to be used by him.  I started seeking him daily and crying out to him.  I started to get in my secret place daily to pray and seek him.

Over time, my faith continued to grow. Each act of obedience brought me closer to God, and my trust in Him deepened. I learned that faith could start as small as a mustard seed, and spending time with God building a relationship my faith and trust continued to grow.  Each time I acted in obedience my faith grew more.

Facing My Father’s Decline

As my father’s dementia progressed, I faced the harsh reality of his gradual decline. I continued to pray for his healing.  Each time I prayed for him I never lost faith he would heal him.  This time was different I wasn’t worried all the time; I had truly given this over to God and believed he would be healed.  There were moments when my dad fell, and after each visit to the hospital, I was filled with hope. However, the truth remained: I was witnessing a long goodbye.

During my dad’s last few weeks as I watched him slowly die each day, I asked God why he hasn’t taken him yet?  God said, “You didn’t get to say goodbye to your mom so I’m giving you plenty of time to say goodbye to your dad.”  I had never been so happy during such a sad time.  What a great God to give me time to say goodbye and tell my dad everything I had ever wanted to say to him.

On January 23, 2024, my father took his last breath while surrounded by family. In that moment, I waved goodbye, knowing he was entering the presence of God. The grief was overwhelming, yet I felt an incredible sense of peace.

Conclusion: A Journey of Faith

If you find yourself struggling with faith, remember it doesn’t develop overnight; it grows like a mustard seed, nurtured by prayer, trust, and reliance on God. Focus on Him, build your relationship with him by spending time with him daily.  Step out in faith when you feel he says to, and over time, you will see your faith flourish, and your relationship with God deepen.

God is faithful, and He desires for us to cast our worries upon Him. Embrace the journey of building your faith, for with every step, you will discover the incredible love and peace He has in store for you.

For more on overcoming fear with faith click HERE.  

For more on the kind of faith that pleases God click HERE.

For more on faith leading the way, click HERE.