Inspirational, Uplifting and Encouraging Bible Verses: : Keeping the Faith, Taking a Leap of Faith

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6

Faith, the belief in and hope for something unseen.

There may be an innate stamp of faith placed in all of us, kind of like a seed. That stamp can be activated when we observe things revealed to us by God. When was the first time, you pondered, of your own accord, the likelihood of His existence? Can you remember?

I can’t say what’s to follow documents the literal first time, but it is the first time I recall. Discussed it the other day with my sister, actually. It was Easter time, I was a little kid. Had heard and understood the story in a general sense, Christ being crucified followed by the resurrection. At that time of year in upstate NY, weather was a crapshoot. Two extremes were possible. On one end, you could have below freezing temperatures and a blizzard. On the other, it could feel like summer. The summer-like scenario was quite rare. One spring I can remember being out at the pond in our back yard fishing over Easter break. Sunny and 80 degrees, it was great. Maybe that was the same spring when my first “leap of faith” took place. We were, of course, going to church that morning. I had my clothes on, was all ready to go. Goofy plaid high water pants and bedhead hairdo most likely, but I was ready. Went outside, and it hit me. Bright warm sun, blue sky, green foliage all around me, smell of spring and birds singing. An onslaught of creative beauty just screaming at me. Jesus was indeed alive. At that moment I believed. Interestingly, His word claims that once you understand and believe, you are in. Made. Made in a way that cannot be un-made. Makes it hard for me to really say when I came to saving faith. An interesting although somewhat irrelevant point to ponder. Irrelevant because 1000 years from now it will not matter when, just if.

Today’s verse set tells us that faith is an essential component to knowing God. Knowing Him means pleasing Him, because all He really wants is a relationship with you and I. He will take you as you are. I know that cause He took me.