FAITH IS

 “Never confuse the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, because

a great deal of what we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive.”

-          Oswald Chambers

1874-1917

Author

 

Anyone who has studied the principles of success knows that faith plays an essential part in the process. When I talk faith as it applies to success principles, I am not referring to religious belief. I confess that I do not believe that anyone can have a truly successful life without a relationship with God. And (to be precise) there is no way to have that relationship other than through Jesus Christ His Son. But again, that is not the faith I am talking about here.

 

The faith that is spoken of in the laws of success is that of believing in your purpose and its value. Once we know what we are called to do in life, it is our responsibility to pursue that goal. Before we can step out and do what is necessary to achieve our goal, we can believe we can achieve it. If we don’t believe it, we will not have the courage to step out into the unknown.

 

The civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” That first step takes courage. One has to believe that the goal they are after is out there, or they will not have the courage to step out. If you believe in your purpose, you will have faith. The fifth-century monk and philosopher Saint Augustine (354-430) said, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

 

Those who believe that there are here on this planet to achieve something on value have a strong faith to see that purpose fulfilled. They have a mission in life to fulfill. They do not always know where the path leads, but they have learned that they will find the way to stay on the course. They may face roadblocks and difficulties along the way, but they will not give up. Psychiatrist and holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl said, “Predicaments and catastrophes weaken a weak faith whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them.”

 

You are here for a purpose. Every person on earth is here for a purpose. We may not know what that purpose is right away, and that is okay. The important thing is that we have faith in knowing we have a purpose. We can begin our journey and allow God to reveal it to as we go along in that knowledge. Faith is not knowing the end before we start. Faith is beginning before we know anything. The French writer Voltaire (1694-1778) tells us, “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”

 

Start today. Step out in faith and begin your journey. If you are one of the fortunate ones who have an idea of your life purpose, go in that direction if you are uncertain, pray, study, and follow what comes before you. Do not complicate things. Remember what Albert Einstein (1879-1955) said, “God always takes the simplest way.”

 

You can learn more about Personal Development from the author and speaker, John Patrick Hickey. To get his books, training material, or book him to speak to your church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   

© 2021 John Patrick Hickey. No part of this material may be reprinted or published without the written permission of the author.