16 - The Nature of Faith
- Pastor Dick Warner
- Oct 8
- 4 min read
A big rock - Image by iStock
Faith Is More Than Wishful Thinking
Let’s be clear: faith isn’t some kind of blind optimism or wishful thinking. It’s confidence—deep-down, solid confidence—rooted firmly in the unshakable promises of God.
Real faith steps in right where human reasoning hits the wall and says, “God, I believe You.”
Faith Is Based Solely on God’s Word
Hebrews 11:1 gives us the clearest picture: “Faith is the evidence of things not seen.” Simple, right? But it’s actually pretty profound.
Faith isn’t built on what you see with your eyes or feel in your gut. Paul puts it plainly:
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Faith and your senses are like two neighbors living on opposite sides of the street. Your eyes and feelings connect you to the changing, temporary world. Faith connects you to the eternal, unchanging Word of God.
When your spirit takes charge, what God has promised feels even more real than what your eyes or feelings tell you.
Like David said:
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)
David believed before he saw. That’s how faith works—it opens the door to experiencing God’s goodness. Sight just confirms what faith already knows.
Believe Before You See
Remember at Lazarus’s tomb how Martha hesitated when Jesus asked her to roll away the stone? She saw death staring right in the face.
But Jesus said:
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
Faith says, “Believe first, then see.” That’s God’s way. Most of us try to flip it around—“I’ll believe it when I see it.” But once you see, you don’t need faith anymore.
Faith starts when everything else says, “Impossible!”
When Faith and Feelings Clash
There are times when your feelings and God’s promises don’t line up. Maybe you feel sick, but Scripture says, “By His stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
You’ve got a choice:
Believe what your body says, or
Believe what God says.
Hold fast to God’s Word, and those stubborn symptoms will eventually give way.
But fair warning—just agreeing in your head isn’t enough.
Faith is heart business. It’s conviction.
Faith Comes by Grace, Not Grit
Paul reminds us:
“By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Faith isn’t something you can force or fake. It’s a gift born out of your relationship with God.
Faith glorifies Him, not you.
The worldly mind says, “I’ll believe it when it makes sense.” The spiritual mind says, “I believe because God said it, and He cannot lie.”
David said it well:
“I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!” (Psalm 119:31)
Abraham’s Three Steps of Faith
Abraham is called the father of believers for a reason. His walk shows us three simple steps:
He believed God’s promise the moment God spoke it, even before he had any proof.
He ignored what his eyes and body said—he was a hundred years old, and Sarah couldn’t have children—but he trusted anyway.
He held tight until what God promised became real—Isaac was born.
Faith first, evidence second—that’s how Abraham lived, and that’s how we’re called to live.
Faith’s True Foundation
Philosophers have asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
Jesus answered once for all: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17)
God’s Word is the ultimate reality. Everything else—feelings, reason, proof—must yield to it.
Faith Is Not Mind Over Matter
Faith isn’t some power play of the mind or wishful thinking dressed as spirituality.
True faith honors God alone.
It lives inside Scripture’s boundaries. It believes what God says and nothing more.
Faith vs. Presumption
There’s a fine but important line between faith and presumption.
Presumption says, “I’m going to make this happen.”
Faith says, “Lord, You do what You promised.”
Faith depends. Presumption demands.
John the Baptist put it this way:
“No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27)
Faith waits. Presumption grabs.
One honors God; the other honors self.
The Mouth of Faith
Paul tells us:
“With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:10)
Faith starts in the heart. But it must be spoken out loud to come alive. When you say what God says, you make it real in your heart, your words, and your world.
Reflection Questions
When your feelings and Scripture clash, which do you trust more?
Are there promises from God you believe deep down but haven’t yet said out loud?
What “Abraham step” do you need to take: accepting God’s promise, ignoring your senses, or holding tight until you see the promise?
Have you ever mixed up presumption for faith? What helps you tell the difference?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your unshakable Word—the foundation of my faith. Help me trust You more than what I see or feel. Teach me to believe first and see later. Guard me from pride and presumption. Let every word I speak line up with Your promises. Make my life a faithful echo of Abraham—steady, simple, and strong. Amen.
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