Finding Faith When There Seems to Be None

The Bible defines faith: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

It's often easy to have faith when there are no storms or trials in life. When there's nothing going on, we usually have no problem at all in having faith. After all, why would there be a problem in having faith when everything is fine?

The real test of our faith is when the storms come. And the storms do come, sometimes in droves. When trials occur in life, that's when our faith is often tested. But how does a person find or keep faith when it seems that everything around them, their very life even, is falling apart?

Sometimes when a storm comes, it tears down the old things, making way for the new. Granted, the tearing down of the old is often painful. There are memories in what was, some good and some bad. There is also the fear of change with the tearing down of the old. But, the only way something new, better, and stronger can be built up is for the old to be torn down. Hence, the storms of life. This is where faith comes in. We have to have faith that what we cannot see is there, that what we need will be provided in the right time.

Faith is something that will take us through not only the easy times in life, but also through the darkest and roughest storms that life brings. For the man who has sworn off loving again because of past hurts, he has to have faith that there is the one that will be all that he wants and needs and more, and won't ever hurt him, but rather will protect him for all harm. For the girl who got pregnant as a teen and fears no man will want her and her child, she has to have faith that there is a man that will not only love and want her, but love and want her child as his own. For the family that lost their home and all they own to a fire and no money to replace any of it, they have to have faith that a home will be provided and all the things they need for it. And the thing about faith is that all that we need will be provided, it is provided, when and how the time is right.

You might be in need of better housing but are unable to afford it. You might wonder how you will obtain what you cannot possibly afford the down payment for a new one. Then one day there's a hurricane coming your way and you are forced to leave your home and almost all you own behind as you evacuate. The hurricane spawns several tornadoes and between those and the hurricane force winds, your home is one that is destroyed. As soon as you hear the news, you are distraught over the loss of your home. But immediately, you are also joyful, because you have faith that all will be fine. A few days later you learn that the insurance you have paid in for years is just the exact amount you need for a down payment for a new home.
Faith is knowing that a way will be provided at the right time, when it's needed. Faith is trusting wholeheartedly that what you need will be provided on time. It's believing and trusting and knowing that you will be taken care of, that your needs will be fulfilled.

The storms of life will come and clear the old, making way for the new. Faith tells us that even in the midst of the storm that all will be okay, that faith is the core of all that we hope for but don't yet see.