“Without faith it is impossible to please God” – these words from Hebrews 11:6 stopped me in my tracks one sleepless night when everything in my life seemed to be falling apart. Like a child learning to ride a bike without training wheels, I was being called to trust in what I couldn’t see, and honestly, it terrified me.
As we explore this profound truth, we’ll uncover what true faith looks like, why it matters so much to God, and what it means for our daily lives. We’ll dive deep into five crucial aspects of faith that show us why it’s the key to pleasing God, supported by real stories and practical examples that will help you strengthen your own faith journey.
I remember sitting in my car after receiving devastating news, wrestling with what faith really means in those moments when life doesn’t make sense. That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about – not just theory, but real, lived-out faith that transforms how we walk with God, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
1. Faith Demonstrates Trust in God’s Character
Have you ever found yourself staring at a bank statement that doesn’t add up, wondering how you’ll make it through the month? That was me last spring, sitting at my kitchen table, bills scattered everywhere. The company I’d worked at for twelve years had just announced massive layoffs, and my position was among them. It’s in moments like these that we truly understand what it means when we say without faith it is impossible to please God.
Trusting in God’s character isn’t just about believing He exists – it’s about knowing who He is even when our circumstances scream otherwise. The Bible tells us in Psalm 9:10, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Think about that – knowing God’s name means understanding His character.
During my unemployment, I discovered that faith is like wearing spiritual glasses that help us see God’s character clearly when everything else is blurry. I remembered how God provided manna for the Israelites daily (Exodus 16:4-5), not giving them a year’s supply at once, but teaching them to trust His character day by day. Similarly, He wasn’t just asking me to believe He could provide – He was inviting me to trust who He is: a faithful Father, a consistent Provider, and a wise Guide.
This trust was tested when a job opportunity arose that offered more money than my previous position, but would require compromising my values. Hebrews 11:6 continues to say, “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Trusting God’s character meant believing He had something better, even when it wasn’t visible yet. Three months later, I found a position that not only met our financial needs but also aligned perfectly with my family’s schedule and my personal values.
As James 1:3 reminds us, “The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Through this journey, I learned that demonstrating trust in God’s character isn’t about feeling confident in our circumstances, but about standing firm in what we know about Him – His faithfulness, His goodness, and His perfect timing.
2. Faith Activates God’s Promises
“Mom, you promised!” My daughter’s words echoed in my mind as I thought about God’s promises. Just as my daughter had to come to me to claim the ice cream date I’d promised, our faith acts as a spiritual hand reaching out to grasp God’s promises. But here’s the thing – unlike our human promises, God’s promises never fail; they just need to be activated by faith.
Think of faith as a spiritual switch that turns on God’s promises in our lives. In Mark 11:24, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” This isn’t about wishful thinking or positive vibes – it’s about standing firmly on what God has already declared.
I remember when my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. Among the medical reports and treatment plans, we found ourselves clinging to promises like Jeremiah 30:17, “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.” Our faith wasn’t just positive thinking; it was actively claiming God’s promise of healing. We prayed with certainty, not because we knew the outcome, but because we knew the Promise-Keeper.
Through months of treatment, every small improvement became a testimony to God’s faithfulness. We learned that activating God’s promises through faith means standing firm even when circumstances suggest otherwise. 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”
The amazing thing about faith-activated promises is that they often unfold in unexpected ways. While we prayed for physical healing, God also brought emotional and spiritual healing to our entire friend group. He used that season to demonstrate that His promises are multi-dimensional, always exceeding our expectations when activated by faith.
3. Faith Moves Us to Obedience
It was 3 AM when I felt God nudging me to call my elderly neighbor. “This is crazy,” I thought, “She’s probably asleep!” But the prompting wouldn’t go away. This is where faith and obedience intersect – in those moments when God’s direction doesn’t seem to make logical sense. As I would later learn, she had fallen and had been praying for help for hours.
Faith that pleases God isn’t passive – it’s active obedience to His voice. Abraham demonstrated this when God asked him to leave everything familiar behind and journey to an unknown land (Genesis 12:1-4). The Bible simply states, “So Abram went.” No arguments, no delay – just pure faith-driven obedience.
James 2:17 puts it bluntly: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Think of faith and obedience like rowing a boat – faith is knowing the boat will float, but obedience is actually getting in and starting to row. One without the other leaves us stranded on the shore.
During my own journey, I’ve discovered that obedience often requires stepping out before we see the full picture. When God called our family to downsize and give more to missions, it felt like stepping off a cliff. But Hebrews 11:8 reminded me that Abraham “obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
The beauty of faith-driven obedience is that it always leads to a deeper understanding of God’s character. Each step of obedience, whether small like a 3 AM phone call or large like a major life change, builds our faith muscle. As Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Our obedience isn’t about earning God’s favor – it’s about demonstrating our trust in His perfect plan and showing our love for Him.
4. Faith Perseveres Through Trials
The phone call came at midnight. “Your brother has been in an accident.” Those words kicked off what would become the longest year of my life, testing my faith in ways I never imagined. It’s one thing to talk about faith during church service; it’s entirely different when you’re sitting in a hospital waiting room, wondering if God is really in control.
You see, persevering faith isn’t about feeling strong – it’s about holding on even when you feel weakest. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Honestly, “pure joy” was the last thing on my mind during those endless hospital visits, but something deeper was happening.
During my brother’s recovery, I discovered what the Bible means when it talks about refined faith. 1 Peter 1:7 describes faith being “refined by fire.” Just as gold becomes purer through intense heat, our faith grows stronger through trials. Each setback, each challenging therapy session, each small victory became another opportunity to trust God’s process.
I remember one particularly dark night when doubt crept in like a thick fog. The doctors had just delivered discouraging news, and my faith felt as fragile as a thread. That’s when Hebrews 10:23 became my lifeline: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Notice it doesn’t say “hold on when you feel like it” or “hold on when it makes sense” – it says hold on, period.
What I learned through that year was that persevering faith isn’t about never doubting or struggling. It’s about continuing to trust God even while wrestling with questions. Like Jacob who wrestled with God but wouldn’t let go until he received a blessing (Genesis 32:26), sometimes our deepest faith grows in the struggle.
5. Faith Impacts Our Daily Decisions
“Paper or plastic?” The grocery store cashier’s question stopped me in my tracks. It was such a simple choice, but after my recent commitment to better stewardship of God’s creation, even this small decision mattered. You see, faith isn’t just for Sunday mornings or major life crises – it’s meant to influence every decision we make, from the smallest choices to life-changing moments.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Notice it says “all your ways” – not just the big moments or spiritual decisions. This truth hit home when I started asking myself, “How does my faith influence my Netflix choices? My shopping habits? My lunch break conversations?”
I remember struggling with this when my company introduced a new policy that would increase profits but potentially harm vulnerable customers. My colleagues saw it as just business, but Colossians 3:23-24 reminded me, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This wasn’t just about business ethics – it was about living out my faith in the marketplace.
Faith-driven decisions often look foolish to the world. When I chose to speak up about the policy, risking my position, many thought I was being naive. But Joshua 24:15 echoes in these moments: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Small decisions, made consistently with faith, create the pathway of our testimony.
The beautiful thing about letting faith impact our daily decisions is that it brings sacred meaning to ordinary moments. Whether it’s choosing reusable bags at the grocery store, speaking truth in a meeting, or deciding how to spend our lunch break, each choice becomes an opportunity to demonstrate that we believe God cares about every aspect of our lives. As Matthew 6:33 promises, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Through this journey, I’ve learned that faith-filled living isn’t about making perfect decisions – it’s about bringing God into every decision, big or small. It’s about asking, “What would love do?” in the checkout line, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.
Conclusion:
Just as a ship needs both an anchor and sails to navigate successfully, faith grounds us in God’s unchanging nature while propelling us forward in our spiritual journey. Whether you’re just beginning to explore what faith means or you’re a seasoned believer facing new challenges, remember that God isn’t looking for perfect faith – He’s looking for faithful hearts that trust Him enough to take the next step. The beautiful truth is that even when our faith feels as small as a mustard seed, God can use it to move mountains in our lives and, more importantly, to draw us closer to His heart.
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