Faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the substance of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
For me faith can be a lot like trust. When I go to sit in a chair I trust that the chair will support me and that I will not fall in the floor when I put my full weight on it.
If a certain type of chair caves when I sit on it in the future I will probably not sit on that type of chair without hesitating. That doesn't mean I don't believe the chair exists or is really a chair, I just hesitate and shy away from it. But almost always I will try again.
God is like that for me. Over and over I've put my full trust in him and found that he supported me through everything. Not always in obvious ways. not always in the way that I wanted, but I always realize at some point that he did.
An example: I currently have a situation where I feel betrayed and I keep asking God why it happened. As I continue to react to my pain with sadness and anger I have starting shifting from asking "why" to thanking God for my freedom from the betrayer. And as I do this I have a sense that God is right there with me in the sadness and anger. I keep going back and then working through the process again, over and over, and with each iteration the cycle time gets shorter and shorter. That feeling comes from a place of faith.
I have faith that you will see things happening around you this Christmas season that will point you toward a renewed faith in God.
Bonus material:
Passion - O Come All Ye Faithful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wW4R4lfUQI
CS Lewis on faith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nh-_PEH25o#ddg-play
#advent #christmas
