Healthy Faith
When you hear the word Faith, what is the first thing you think of? What does that word evoke inside of you? For some it will be a calming collection of peaceful words, images, and emotions. For others it may be a collection of fearful words, shaming images, and emotions filled with pain. Unfortunately, not all faith leads to healthiness and healing. However, no matter which side of faith you have experienced, there is a way to find and maintain a healthy faith.
What is faith? Webster defines faith as “Devotion to duty or person; the quality of keeping one’s promises.” This faith may be one a young child experiences with a caring and loving parent. Another definition of faith is “Belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the doctrines of religion; firm belief even in the abscence of proof.” Some of this is evident in our relationship with a holy and loving God. So, why the vocabulary lesson? It is simply to show that faith can be a different experience for each person. However, as a follower of Christ, faith is interwoven into our belief system. Therefore, having a healthy faith will allow you to experience Christ as he designed you to experience him.
First, a healthy faith is a faith that does not deny reality; rather, healthy faith accepts it even in the face of adversity. Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Paul continues, in verse 3, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible.” This faith is one that rests in knowing God, believing and trusting in Him, even without physically seeing Him. Additionally, this passage speaks to the great faith leaders such as Abraham, Moses, Enoch, Isaac, and more who exhibited lives of faith in the face of much adversity without denying their experience.
Secondly, a healthy faith allows for autonomy. We may be believers, but how we experience God, convictions, and the Holy spirit may be different. But if these experiences and convictions are in accordance with God’s character and his word, does that make one person wrong and one right? No. It just makes us different. And a healthy faith will allow for that difference rather than try to convince (or sometimes shame) a person to believe or act a certian way. A healthy faith allows for boundaries. I can know where I end and begin and allow you space for where you end and begin.
Thirdly, a healthy faith allows for growth. It allows for growth in self and others. As long as we are on this earth we have room for growth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In the words of Craig Groeschel, “If you ain’t dead, you ain’t done.” We are all still aiming for the prize set before us (Phil. 3:14). And each part of us is on a different leg of the race. We need to offer a balance of truth and grace not only to ourselves, but also to others as we walk our faith journey. Sharing truths that display God’s character and love as well as grace that supplies the same will allow for us to encourage (sometimes challenge) one another to grow in healthy faith.
Lastly, healthy faith leads to healing. Matthew 9:22; 28-30 dispalys how faith leads to healing. Additionally, Matthew 14, Mark 3, Luke 5 all speak to a healing that is beyond the physical. This healing results in a redemption of the soul. And it is an everlasting healing. Again, we do not ignore the adversity Jesus tells we will face (John 16:33), but we accept it and move through it growing our faith and drawing nearer to Him.
Healthy faith leads to a healing faith. It is a faith that will draw us near to Christ with compassion, grace, and truth. A healthy faith will allow us to understand the grave clothes we have worn, and receive the royal robes provided to us in salvation.