Biblical Answer

The Nature of Faith and Its Relationship with Circumstances

Faith is not a feeling or an emotion, but a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ. It is not about having a deep understanding of God's plan or being able to see the way ahead. Rather, it is about trusting in Jesus, even when circumstances seem to contradict our faith. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul writes, "For we live by faith, not by sight." This means that our faith is not based on what we can see or experience, but on the promises of God. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are not basing our hope on our circumstances, but on the character and power of God.

The Assurance of Faith

The Bible teaches that faith is not just a feeling or a decision, but a living and active relationship with God. In 1 Peter 1:5, it is written, "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." This means that our faith is not just a one-time decision, but a daily choice to trust in Jesus and live according to His character. When we make this choice, we can be assured that our faith will not fail. As the Bible says, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Overcoming Discouragement

When we face difficult circumstances, it can be tempting to lose faith. But the Bible teaches us that faith is not about our circumstances, but about our relationship with God. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are not basing our hope on our circumstances, but on the character and power of God. As we learn to trust in Jesus, we can overcome discouragement and maintain our faith, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. As the Bible says, "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5). By trusting in Jesus and living according to His character, we can maintain our faith and overcome discouragement, even when everything falls apart.