Faith - Part 2
New to the series? Start with Part 1 to discover how faith begins and grows.
Faith - Part 2
Get It. Grow It. Live It.
What does a lifetime of faithfulness actually look like?
Faith is more than something we receive from God or turn to when life becomes difficult. It is meant to shape how we live, how we make decisions, how we respond to uncertainty, and how we obey God—even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
In Part 1 of Faith: Get It. Grow It. Live It., Pastor Nichole Crowley shared that every believer has been given a seed of faith and that our faith grows as we feed it with God’s Word, strengthen it in His presence, and exercise it through obedience.
In Part 2, she turns our attention toward what it means to actually live by faith.
Living by faith does not mean that we never experience questions, fear, waiting, or uncertainty. It means that we continue trusting the character of God in the middle of them. Faith becomes more than something we believe—it becomes the way we walk.
What Does It Mean to Live by Faith?
Living by faith means trusting God enough to respond to what He says.
It is easy to think of faith primarily as an internal belief. Biblical faith, however, consistently produces action. It affects our priorities, our decisions, our relationships, and our willingness to obey.
Faith says:
God is trustworthy, even when I do not understand.
God is working, even when I cannot yet see it.
God’s way is good, even when obedience is costly.
God will remain faithful, even when the road ahead is unclear.
Living by faith is not one dramatic decision. It is a continuing pattern of choosing to trust God one step at a time.
Faith Is Revealed Through Obedience
Obedience does not earn God’s love, but it does reveal where our trust has been placed.
We can say that we believe God, but faith becomes visible when we act upon what He has spoken. Sometimes that obedience feels bold and significant. More often, it looks like quietly doing the next thing God has placed in front of us.
It may mean:
forgiving someone who hurt us,
remaining faithful during a season of waiting,
giving when God prompts us to give,
serving when no one is watching,
saying yes before we understand every detail,
or continuing to pray when the answer has not yet come.
Every act of obedience gives our faith room to grow.
Trusting God When the Road Is Unclear
Many people find it easy to trust God when they can see where He is leading. Faith is tested when the destination is hidden.
God often gives enough light for the next step rather than revealing the entire road. This requires us to trust not only His direction, but also His character.
We may not understand what God is doing, but we can remember who He is.
He is good.
He is faithful.
He sees what we cannot see.
He knows the end from the beginning.
He does not abandon His children.
Faith does not require us to pretend that uncertainty is easy. It invites us to place our uncertainty into the hands of a faithful God.
Faithfulness Is Built Over a Lifetime
A life of faith is formed through repeated acts of trust and obedience.
Most spiritual growth does not happen in one extraordinary moment. It happens through ordinary faithfulness:
returning to God’s Word,
remaining close to His presence,
praying when we feel discouraged,
obeying when it would be easier not to,
and continuing to follow Jesus through every season.
Over time, these individual decisions become a life marked by faithfulness.
The goal is not simply to have moments of faith. The goal is to become people whose lives consistently demonstrate that God can be trusted.
Faith Does Not Depend on Feelings
There will be days when faith feels strong and days when it feels costly.
Our emotions are real, but they are not always reliable indicators of God’s presence or faithfulness. Living by faith means grounding our lives in what God has said rather than in what we currently feel.
We do not obey only when we feel confident.
We do not worship only when life is easy.
We do not trust only when the outcome seems certain.
Faith chooses to stand upon the truth of God even when our emotions are still catching up.
Small Acts of Faith Matter
We sometimes imagine that meaningful faith must always look dramatic. But a lifetime of faithfulness is usually built through small decisions that few people ever see.
Every time you choose trust over fear, obedience over convenience, generosity over selfishness, or perseverance over discouragement, you are learning to live by faith.
Do not despise the small step God is asking you to take.
You may not yet see where it leads, but God can use one act of obedience to prepare you for the next.
Questions to Consider
Where is God currently asking me to trust Him?
Is there something He has asked me to do that I have delayed?
Am I waiting to understand everything before I obey?
What fear is keeping me from taking my next step?
What would living by faith look like in my ordinary life this week?
Am I building a pattern of faithfulness or only responding during emergencies?
Key Takeaway
Faith is not only something we receive or something we grow. It is something we live.
A life of faith is built as we trust God, obey His voice, remain faithful through uncertainty, and continue walking with Him one step at a time.
You do not need to see the entire road before you move forward. You only need to trust the One who is leading you.
Take Your Next Step
Ask God to show you one specific area where your faith needs to become action.
Then take the next step He places before you.
It may feel small. It may feel uncomfortable. It may require courage. But every step of obedience strengthens your trust and helps faith become more than something you believe—it becomes the way you live.
A simple prayer for this week:
“Lord, I trust You. Show me my next step, and give me the courage to obey.”
Join us at Joy Church in Bend, Oregon, or watch online each week for biblical teaching, worship, encouragement, and opportunities to grow in your relationship with Jesus.
