Faith is not simply a belief in an idea or expectation of God’s actions, but a deep, personal relationship with God that allows us to trust in Him completely. Many people place their faith in their own expectations of how God should act, rather than in God Himself. When life’s hardships challenge those expectations, it can lead to a faith crisis. True faith is a certainty that God sees us, loves us, and will guide us through both joy and suffering rather than shielding us from pain.

Key Concepts

1. Faith is a Personal Relationship with God: True faith is not just an idea or expectation of divine intervention, but a deep trust in God’s wisdom and presence in our lives.
2. God’s Will vs. Our Will: Faith does not mean that God will act according to our desires, but that we trust in His plan, even in times of hardship.
3. Faith is Strengthened in Community: We are not alone in our struggles; sharing our faith journey with others in Christ brings healing and deeper understanding.

The Basis of Our Faith

For ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. -Mosiah 3:9b RAV, 5:7c OPV

The third key word: In. What is the basis of your faith? Where does it come from? In Hebrews 1:1 Paul tell us that “faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.” And there are many that would declare this means we must simply have faith with no proof, that asking God for proof is somehow a sin.

Yet our God is a personal God. In Genesis 16:13 Hagar calls God “El-Roi,” which is to say, “the God who sees me.” David, in Psalm 23:1, states that the Lord is his shepherd. Shepherds are very aware and have a great love for their sheep. In the New Testament Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel. We are his sheep.

What Paul was actually telling the Hebrews to find that unexplainable truth burning inside us that can only come from God. It is not a guess or a hope. It is pure knowledge that is given to us From God through the Holy Ghost, in the spirit of prophecy and revelation.

Remember what the angel said to John in Revelation 19:10, “Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” That is not hope for something unseen, it is an understanding that is beyond human comprehension that can only come from God. God wants a real relationship with you, one that is intimate, permanent, and personal. God wants you to feel safe because of the connection of mutual trust between you and God, as we see between God and Abraham.

Amy

Another individual I have worked with, we will call her Amy, told a story of how God saved her parents from what she felt was certain death. She believed that God knew how much her parents dying would hurt her and so believed that God spared them so that she would not feel pain.

Her faith crisis came when her parents later died, suddenly and unexpectedly. She did not understand why God was doing this to her. She felt betrayed, abused, and tormented by an uncaring God. Her faith was not in Jesus Christ, in the reality that life would happen to all of us, and that God would be there for her during the pain. Her faith was in an idea, the idea that God would protect her at all costs.

This was and is an idea that could never be realized as it was beyond anything anyone else in this world has or will ever experience. And while it is easy to say, “Jesus suffered on the Cross, He felt pain to help lessen your own pain,” this merely gives lip service to a grieving daughter. Amy had to find the strength to go to God in a new way that allowed her to submit to God’s will, rather than expecting God to submit to her will. And this is a cross all of us as Christians at some point must bear. But we do not bear it alone.

Ask: In?

I pray that you take the time now to look at yourself closely, asking yourself: What do (or did) you have faith in? And as you ask yourself this, remember that you are not alone. Millions have faced what you are going through. This is why Jesus told us in Matthew 18:20 to gather in His name. Together in Christ we are one, and together in Christ we are stronger. Listen to the stories of others that are going through or have gone through their own faith crisis. Lean on one another in Christ, in our joys and in our sorrows.

God did not place this faith crisis on you to break you. Your faith crisis has come at this moment to define you, the real you that has been waiting for this moment to jump out and reveal themselves. God is not going to test your faith, God is going to prove your faith, not to Himself, God already knows you intimately. God wants you to see in your self the miracle and beauty that God sees. God said when you were created, “It is very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Discussion Questions

If you are taking this course independently, please use the quiz to turn in your answers. 

1. Reflect on a time when your faith was challenged. What did you expect from God, and how did your experience shape your relationship with Him?
2. How does the story of Amy illustrate the difference between faith in an idea and faith in God? How can we ensure our faith is built on God rather than on expectations?
3. In what ways can gathering with others in faith (Matthew 18:20) help us during difficult spiritual trials? How can you support others in their own faith crises?

Suggestions for Action

1. Take time each day to reflect on where your faith is placed. Is it in God, or in your expectations of God’s actions?
2. Practice surrendering your desires to God through prayer, trusting in His greater plan rather than seeking control.
3. Share your faith journey with others, listening to their struggles and supporting them in their own faith growth.
4. Faith is strengthened when we serve others; look for opportunities to help those in need and demonstrate God’s love in action.
5. Read and meditate on passages like Hebrews 11, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Matthew 6:25-34 to deepen your understanding of faith.

Final Thought/Meditation

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Imagine yourself walking through a storm, the wind and rain surrounding you, making it difficult to see. Suddenly, you feel a strong, steady hand grasp yours. It is Jesus, walking beside you. He does not take the storm away, but He walks with you through it, guiding you with love and certainty. Hear Him whisper, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” As you open your eyes, carry this image with you, knowing that your faith is not in what you expect of God, but in His unshakable presence and love for you.