Faith

One of the simplest descriptions of faith is that it is a belief in something that cannot be seen. Throughout history, people have been mocked for their faith in God. Many people have described the idea of faith as an easy excuse to avoid having to prove that there is a God. To say that God cannot be seen, or proven, by humankind is an easy way to avoid “the reality of the world around us”. After all, to have faith in God means that you cannot “prove” that he exists; if you could, that simply would not be faith.

Although we cannot prove that God exists by using scientific techniques, we can still know that God exists. We can look at the world around us and see its beauty, its complexity, and at the same time, its simplicity. We need only to look at our own lives and those of people we know around us. We can look at how He has changed us and formed us into the people we are now. God takes our lives that often seem void of any hope, and He gives us a future, a reason for living; He gives us that hope.

As we look through the Bible, it does not take long for us to see that it is not simply a book filled with stories, but in fact, it is a continuing adventure in which we all play a role. Many people do not realise that what we read about in the Bible is not something that just happened 2000 years ago, but that it is something which continues to this very day. God wants all of us to have the hope that He offers to everyone who is willing to follow Him.

We often have this idea that God only wants those who live “good” lives to follow him. There are times when we find ourselves thinking that we have done too many bad things or that we just cannot live up to what God expects from us. The truth is that God wants everyone. It does not matter what we have done in the past or what mistakes we are making now. God is holding out his hand just waiting for us to take it. The life and hope that God offers truly is open to all of us who are willing to accept it.

None of us are perfect, and all we can do is accept God’s gift of life. The guidance He lays down is there to give us meaning and to free us from the things that hold us back. Accepting His gift is not difficult; He does not require us to jump through hoops, but He asks us to try and go where He leads us. Where can that guidance be found? In his word and in the community of those who follow Him.