Remarkable Faith

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 19:17).

Habakkuk is a good study in faith. As the prophet dealt with the tremendous problems of his day, his faith grew. Our faith always grows much more in the hard times than it does when things are going smoothly. Faith is a lifestyle of devoted, expectant living.
Studying God's Word and praying pulls us closer to Him, and all of it grows our faith. As Warren Wiersbe writes in Be Amazed, "We are not only saved by faith, but we are instructed to live by faith."

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

If you read the book of Habakkuk, you'll see many parallels to today. The people were making poor choices and ignoring God. They were turning elsewhere to get answers and help. Much of the time, they arrogantly trusted themselves to furnish what they wanted and desired. Temporary pleasures began to take president over any faith they'd been taught. They were puffed up with pride and self-sufficiency and thought their nation was invincible, but they were headed for trouble and downfall.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith is a remarkable thing and should keep growing throughout our lifetime. It continues to hope no matter how bleak things seem by focusing on God who never changes. Faith puts God as a priority so far ahead of anything else, all other things pale in significance. Faith gives us a purpose that circumstances will not change. As Wiersbe says, "To live by faith means to believe in God's Word and obey it no matter how we see, or what the consequences may be."

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