The Gift of Faith

What is faith? Is it really a gift? How does it help us? Where does it come from? Many people believe that faith is just superstition, and is actually harmful because it fills people with false hope. I must say that my understanding of the gift of faith is very basic and simple, and probably fails to meet the theological interpretation.

Jesus taught his disciples: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk 10:14-15). What was Jesus trying to get across to them? What did he mean by like a child? What did he mean by the kingdom of God? Jesus also said, to Thomas: “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn 20:29). What did Jesus mean by blessed?

Faith and hope are two sides of the same coin. To live without hope is to be like a dead man, walking. There is no future, only futility and death. To hope is to long for something we expect, but has not become visible or real, yet—like a mother, eagerly waiting for the birth of her child.

One of the characteristics of a child is simplicity. Little children are open to life and the unknown; and their minds are uncluttered by doubts and explanations. They believe in the impossible dream. Nothing is impossible to them. They are open to the spirit, a world that no man has seen. They can be caught up in the Holy Spirit, and led by the Holy Spirit, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, because they are free to reach beyond their senses. They are free to travel into the unknown.

Jesus was always telling his disciples to ask for what they want and need. Children are not too proud to ask for anything; even the moon. They are ready to take on the world, ready to move mountains just by sheer desire. Children have absolute trust and confidence in those who love them. They are ready to live; open to life. The life they long for is the kingdom of God—a kingdom of love, beauty, truth, and goodness; a kingdom where everything good is possible. Babies and little children are naturally attracted to these things, and chase after them.

Children are born into this world, by faith and with faith. At birth, they cannot talk, stand, walk, run, jump, swim, or fly. Yet, as soon as they have eyes to see and ears to hear, they want to talk, stand, walk, run, jump, swim, and fly—like a bird. Nothing is impossible for them; nothing they can see, hear, or imagine; and even beyond what they can imagine. Invention is a child’s playground. They do not give up until they achieve all that their hearts desire, no matter how often they fall in trying. They are future co-creators of worlds upon worlds. They are not limited by matter or reason. The more they exercise their faith, the more it grows. Children are quick to believe in angels, goblins, fairies, leprechauns, and Santa Clause. These are merely stepping stones for them; opportunities for their faith to grow. Eventually, their faith will take them to the moon and beyond; into new heavens and new earths. If their faith continues to grow, they will be the ones who walk on water, raise the dead to life, give sight to the blind, make the deaf hear, enable the lame to walk, move mountains, have their bodies glorified, and become like God. They can’t do it alone, however; as they soon discover. They need one like the Son of Man, who is also Son of God, to show them the way and to empower then with the Holy Spirit. They need someone who believes in them; someone who loves them unconditionally; someone who keeps reminding them that all things are possible. They need someone who can show them the way; someone who has been there, done that, and has gone ahead of them to lead them. They need Jesus Christ.

Those who have this kind of faith and hope have peace of heart and mind because they are free of fear, shame, and guilt. How happy they are. How blessed they are. They will live forever in the kingdom of God.

Simply put, the gift of faith is an attraction, an invitation, to new life, love, beauty, truth, and goodness; an attraction to God. The gift of faith also prompts and pushes us toward God. The more faith we have, the faster we run to God.