What does faith look like? I see it in many of the people God has placed in my life. They live to honor God. They thank God when things go well, and trust Him when they don’t. One friend in particular exemplifies faith for me. She is right now moving through various medical episodes as cancer weakens her body. Yet, through it all she remains joyful because her confidence does not depend on the success of her treatments. Her hope is not in this world, but in the God whom she knows to be faithful and good, regardless of circumstances. I am encouraged whenever I am with her.
Faith is knowing Jesus died for our sins to make us right with God, and then living right in response to that. It is doing the right thing when it is costly or uncomfortable to do so.
By faith, we know God exists, and He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is living according to God’s standards rather than the world’s standards.
The Bible defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
The Bible gives us multiple examples of what faith looks like, in ordinary people who live by faith. Many of them are listed for us in the book of Hebrews. By faith, Abel offered a sacrifice that pleased God. By faith, Noah built an ark when God warned of a coming flood and told him to get ready. It had never rained, it may not have made a lot of sense. But Noah did everything God commanded.
By faith, Abraham left his family and his country, according to God’s instructions. He didn’t yet know where he was going. He just set out. He lived in tents while he looked forward to a city with eternal foundations. By faith, Sarah was able to have a child, when she was barren and both she and Abraham were old. She believed God would keep His promise. And the whole nation of Israel was born through this elderly couple who believed God.
By faith, Joseph trusted God through hard circumstances. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery. He was imprisoned unjustly. Eventually, he was brought out of prison and given a position of authority, which enabled the nation of Israel to grow and thrive in Egypt for a time. Joseph knew God had a bigger plan than just what Joseph saw and experienced in his own life. When he died, he left instructions that his bones would be taken back to the Promised land. He believed God would keep his promise to return His people to the land He had given them.
By faith, Moses confronted Pharaoh and told him to let God’s people go. By faith he raised his staff and watched God part the waters of the Red Sea so the people of Israel could walk through. When all the people had passed through, by faith he raised his staff again and the waters closed over the Egyptian army pursuing them.
Faith is not believing everything will turn out as we want. Nor is it believing that if we have enough faith, we will never get sick or suffer hardship. Faith is trusting and obeying God regardless of circumstances. It is trusting God’s good character and eternal purposes when things do not go well. It is being willing to suffer now, for a while, knowing a glorious eternal future awaits. The things of this life are fleeting and temporary.
What does faith look like? It is believing God’s ways are right, even when we don’t understand what He is doing.
Faith is grounded in God’s character, trusts in His word, and lives in obedience. It is impossible to please God without faith.
The righteous shall live by faith. Romans 1:17 ESV
What does faith look like for you? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by sspiehs3 from Pixabay
Faith to me is believing God’s promises.
Yes! Thank you, Beth.
Thank you for your thoughts, Phyllis. So well-thought out and written. I appreciate it!
Thank you so much for reading, Joni.