Faith That Grows Strong

Faith Planted by God

(Romans 4:19-22)

“Starting today, I’m going to have faith.” But does faith really come the moment we make that decision? We can have faith only when God plants it in us, and that faith can grow strong only when God sustains it. Abraham’s faith shows us what this kind of faith looks like.

1. Faith Despite All
Abraham knew full well that his own body was already dead and that Sarah’s womb was also in a state of death. Yet he did not grow weak. No one had ever given him a detailed explanation of who God was, nor had he experienced any supernatural miracle, but he believed that God was able to fulfill His word. Though he was physically weak and had only limited knowledge of God, his faith did not waver.

2. Faith That Gives Glory to God
When Sarah’s womb was already in a state of death, God promised Abraham, “Sarah your wife shall have a son.” People often give up believing when the possibility grows smaller, but even when doubt came and struck at his faith, Abraham was not divided in his own mind. From the beginning, the focus of his firm faith was not on what he could gain, but on giving glory to God. That faith was shown in his full conviction that God would surely fulfill His promise. This conviction did not come from Abraham himself; it was the result of God persuading him so that he willingly became convinced.

3. Faith Accounted as Righteousness
God planted faith in Abraham, and when that faith had grown, God took it as legal evidence on Abraham’s behalf and issued the verdict of righteousness over him in heaven. There is no other way for us either. We cannot work up within ourselves the kind of faith that does not waver even when we clearly understand how impossible the situation is, does not give up when we do not understand, and keeps us from being divided in our own minds even when doubt strikes at our faith. Therefore, let us no longer rely on ourselves, but from beginning to end place our trust in God alone, who is compassionate and gracious.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim