Belief versus Faith

This past week I was studying the difference between belief and faith. For me it was eye-opening, and with Easter around the corner, I thought it perfect timing. Here is a bit of what I learned...

I've believed in God for as long as I can remember, but that is not faith. Faith is something infinitely deeper and more intimate. It says in James 2: 19 that the demons believe, but do they have faith? No. Everyone believes something or believes in something. But what is faith?

I was struck by one paragraph in the study this week, probably because it spoke directly to where I was at the moment. It's truth resonates. This is from the book Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

If you find yourself shifting back and forth between confidence and anxiety,if you find that your mind and emotions can never fully be at rest,probably you have strong belief, but have not moved on to faith. You cannot get faith from any source except God Himself. Get to know the Promiser for yourself, and it will be easy to trust His promises. Give Him every opportunity to prove Himself strong in your behalf. Let Him take responsibility for moving you on to faith. Rest in Him.

This is the crux of the matter to me. Faith is a confidence in the character of God and the Truth of His Word. It requires a relationship with the Almighty and an awareness of His Presence in my life. I can have faith in Him because I KNOW Him. I have experienced Him and I trust Him. You see belief is a shaky business; it can change with the wind and does not have a foundation. But faith is rock solid and built on Truth. And when God speaks, I can obey in faith because I have confidence in who He is.

Later in the study, the author makes this distinction.

Faith in its active form is called "obedience."
Faith in its spoken form is called "prayer."

Faith puts action to belief. It is the heart and mind of the matter. Belief penetrates your mind. Faith penetrates your mind, heart, soul, and body. It becomes the way you live. And prayer is the relational aspect of faith. Faith is rooted in Someone.

I've always loved Hebrews 11. It is such an inspiring and challenging treatise on faith. Here is part of it...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. for by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

By faith Able offered to God...
By faith Enoch was translated...

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he sho comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen,
moved with godly fear and perpared an ark...
By faith Abraham obeyed...
By faith he (Abraham) sojourned...)
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive and bore a child...
By faith Issac blessed Jacob and Esau...
By faith Jacob blessed his sons and worshipped...
By faith....

The list goes on and on. By faith, God's people acted on His word. This passage is chock full of verbs. All these people had relationships with God, firsthand experience, and the relationship gave scope and purpose to their lives. Hope. They chose to walk a life directed by God in faith.

I understand with greater clarity now why my life looks so different when I am walking by faith instead of just belief in God. God calls His people to hear His voice and respond in faith. Obedience. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes. DoI always obey and listen with faith? Certainly not. But when I do, the difference in my life, my mind, and my soul is significant.

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

So, this Easter as I celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the gift of life He has given me, I will have faith in the one, true living God with whom I can daily interact. This is the gift of Easter, a relationship with the Almighty God of the universe. My faith rests in Him and I am full of joy.