Many people misunderstand the question of faith because of the way we use that word. If you hope it will be good weather the next day, but you are not 100% sure about that, you say you believe it will be good weather.

However, when the Bible talks about faith, it has nothing to do with uncertainty. In the Bible faith means assurance of something. Biblical faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Do not confuse faith and hope
What many people do is that they confuse hope and faith, but there is a big difference between these two. Hope talks about the future, while faith talks about the presence. It does not mean that hope is not important, but you should not mix the two words.

Many people have got into trouble because they thought they believed, but their faith was actually just hope. The Bible does not say that everything is possible for the one who hopes, but it says that everything is possible for the one who believes (Mark 9:23).

Hope is also important
Hope is important because it is the forerunner of faith. You hope for something and suddenly the hope gets transformed into faith if you only know that you have what you hope for. You can say that hope is the building material for faith.

If you pray for something, do not be condemned if you realize that your faith was actually just hope, but know that it is the material your faith will be built with. When you are persistent in what you hope for, it will get transformed into faith and then you already have what you have been praying for – even though you might not see it physically.

But is faith so important?
For us, Christians, faith is very important – that is why we are called believers since there is faith in us. Maybe you do not feel that you believe in something, but the Bible says that God has given all people some measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

Faith is important because it is the key for what God has for you, but He is not going to give it to you if you do not ask Him for it. Even being a Christian is a matter of faith – you get saved when you believe in Jesus as the Son of God.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We can see that Jesus was very interested in the faith of the people who came to Him:

• Matthew 8:10: The officer and his servant
• Matthew 9:2: The lame man
• Matthew 9:22: The bleeding woman
• Matthew 9:22: Two women get healed
• Matthew 15:28: The woman with a demon-possessed daughter
• Matthew 17:15: The disciples rebuked for their doubt

Your faith can grow
Many people lose courage because they feel that their faith is too little, but there is good news – your faith can grow. It is not going to happen by itself, but if you want more faith, it is possible.

1. Speak out the Word of God

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

When you hear the Word of God, it builds your faith, and the one you hear the most is yourself – so make sure you speak the Word of God.

1. Look at God and not at your problems

Romans 4:18-21
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Although Abraham knew that from the natural point of view it was impossible for him to get children, it was not what filled his thoughts. He focused on what he hoped should happen and not on what he feared could happen.

1. Practice your faith

There is a big difference between stupidity and taking a step of faith. Everything is possible for the one who believes, but is important to be realistic and not go beyond your own faith.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

If you do not feel that your faith is big enough, you have to continue building it and when the faith is there, you can take the step. Many have been encouraged to take some steps beyond their own faith so this issue has been criticized, but it is an important part of your miracle. Things just have to come in the right order.

Jesus often asked people to take a step of faith, but He knew their own level of faith.

• Water to wine (John 2:1-11)
  The miracle happened when the servants brought the water to the master of the banquet

• Five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21)
  The miracle happened when they distributed the food

• The 10 paralyzed men (Luke 17:11-19)
  The miracle happened when they were on their way to the priest

• The blind one who got his sight (John 9:1-7)
  The blind person began to see when he washed himself

If we do not act upon our faith, it remains dead, but we have to give it time to grow. When we hold on to our faith, speak out the Word of God and focus on God’s helping power, our faith grows. Then there will come a time when you just know that you know that you have what you have been praying for and then you can take a step of faith.