“Now to Him who has the unlimited strength to do far more than we can ever ask or imagine according to His miraculous power that is working through us.”

Faith is having a good opinion about God.  

This is so very important, that I must say it again: Faith is having a good opinion about God. 

Faith is not deciding “I’m a Christian because my dad, and my great-grandfather were.” Nor does faith say, “Of course I’m a Christian. What else would I be?” 

Faith is also more than having a belief that God exists.

Some think that faith refers to a belief and devotion to a deity or a religious system of beliefs or creeds. That is more like a membership in a club or sorority. The Apostle Paul never wrote, "There is absolutely no condemnation for those in the correct religion." The Apostle John never wrote, "The religion that is in you is greater than the other religions in the world.”  

Further, true Christian faith does not believe that “God is out to get us” or that “God keeps a record a wrongs.” Neither of those are true. 

The Greek word for faith (pistis) is a noun. Essentially, faith is having the opinion that God is who He says He is, He did what He says He did, and He will absolutely do what He says He will. God keeps his promises. Most importantly, faith accepts that God loves us as much as He says He does. Add to that the truth that God loves you more than you could ever imagine. 

That is a good opinion about God. That is faith.

Faith knows that “even though I walk through extreme danger, you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Faith knows that “every single thing brings about good results for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)

Faith knows, because the person knows God. Faith knows that “I can’t,” but “God will!”

Faith echoes the confidence of Paul when he wrote, “I can do every single thing through Him who provides me with overwhelming and super-abundant power.” (Philippians 4:13, PV)

Everything we need flows out of God’s great love for us. When we are “in Christ,” God then “gifts us” with everything we need in abundance. He also gives us some things we don’t need just to show how deep, wide, and high His love is for us.

You see, when we strive to earn anything from God, or attempt to “do” things to please Him so we might receive blessings, we will fail. We will never, ever be able to earn a single gift from Him. But, once we are in Christ, God gives to us “far more than we can ever ask or imagine” – Paul (Ephesians 3:20, PV).

That is faith.

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From “Rest for Your Souls: Finding Real Hope and Deliverance From Trauma and Other Deep Scars of Life.” Copyright 2025 by Jonathan H. DeBoard, Ph.D., M.Div., LMFT