What is faith in God and what does it really mean? In today’s show, I’m kicking off a 4-part series on faith to explore this very question. Over the next few weeks, we’ll dive into the Bible to uncover the power of having faith in God, and how to apply it in your own life.
In episode 124, we uncovered what to do when you’re losing faith in God, and in this series, we’ll take it a step further.
In part 1, I’ll break down…
- What Faith in God REALLY looks like.
- A powerful lesson from a father in the Bible.
- How to effectively use the Shield of Faith.
- When to use the Shield of Faith.
This post and episode may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking some of the links below, although your cost doesn’t change, I may receive a small commission. For more information, see my privacy and disclaimers.
What Faith IN GOD Really Looks Like
So what does faith in God really look like?
All too often, we think that trusting God means we have no fears; that in order to have true faith, there should be no doubt. But that’s not at all what faith truly means.
Faith in God is CHOOSING to take our doubts and fears to Him. It’s CHOOSING to put our trust in Him, even when we have no idea how things will turn out.
Philip Yancey once said,
Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.
Most of the time, our circumstances won’t make sense when we’re walking through them. But we can trust that God will help us through. It’s only when we look back, that everything makes more sense.
Tired of prayers that go unanswered? Learn how to stand before God and KNOW that He’s listening.
The only online program that equips you with confidence in your ability to use the power of prayer to navigate life’s challenges and experience a deeper connection with God.
We must also understand that faith isn’t a simple, one-time decision. It’s a continuous journey that requires daily renewal and commitment.
The enemy’s #1 goal is to distract us and keep us from a close relationship with God, so we have to stand our ground every day. We must CHOOSE to have faith in our Father by taking our doubts and concerns to Him.
How to Use the Shield of Faith
In Ephesians, Chapter 6, we read about the Armor of God. And in verse 16, we learn how to use the Shield of Faith.
“In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” NLT
The Shield of Faith isn’t just for “super Christians” who have it all figured out. It isn’t something we hold up as a badge of honor after accomplishing complete trust in God.
Rather, holding up the Shield of Faith is about taking our doubts to Jesus and saying, “Lord, help me have faith in you.” It’s about positioning ourselves under our Father’s defenses, relying on His strength and abilities rather than our own.
A LESSON ON FAITH FROM A FATHER
In Mark 9:20-24, we see a father raising the Shield of Faith despite his doubts.
20 So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. He fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming from his mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” The father answered, “Since he was very young. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!” ICB
What’s so important about this verse is that when his son was suffering, the father didn’t give up. He took his doubts to Jesus and asked for help, saying, “I do believe, but help me believe more!”
This teaches us that true faith is about calling on God (even in our doubts) and asking for His help when we can’t see a way through.
WHEN TO HOLD UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH
So when do you hold up the Shield of Faith?
You probably already guessed, but every single day. (And on some days, you’ll have to hold it up over and over again.)
Having faith in God isn’t a one-and-done choice. It’s choosing to trust Him day in and day out.
Too often, when those trials and challenges are beating us down, and our faith begins to waver, we feel like we’re failing as Christians.
But the truth is, this doesn’t make us failures at all. Rather, they become beautiful opportunities to rely on God for the strength, wisdom and guidance we need.
WHAT DOES FAITH IN GOD REALLY MEAN
You’re not doing anything wrong when you have fears and doubts as a Christian.
You’re a beautiful child of God who can hold up the Shield of Faith and choose to position yourself under His defenses.
Getting through through the hard times isn’t easy. But just like the father we talked about in this episode, having faith in God means you know Who to rely on when you’re feeling tired and weary.
Faith in God is a journey, my friend, and I’m here to walk beside you every step of the way. So grant yourself a little grace and CHOOSE to take your doubts and fears to The Lord.
In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000.
So grab your earbuds and your favorite beverage and join me for part 1 in this series: What Does Faith in God Really Mean.
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:14 The reality of faith
- 11:42 How to use the shield of faith
- 19:56 How often should you use the shield of faith
- 21:48 Wrapping Up
[Check out everything mentioned in the show here.]
More Ways to Enjoy the Show
Would you rather listen to the audio? I got you, my friend. Just hit the play button below.
Rate and Review the Show
“I love Tammy and A Faithful God Podcast!.” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
This helps me support more women — just like you — grow closer to God and learn how to apply God’s Word to their life.
Simply click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”
Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!
