Faith – Part 4
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about true faith, explaining that faith is not merely an intellectual conviction in the existence of God, but a living and practical relationship with Him in every detail of life.
A believer feels that God is continually present with him, sees Him through faith, and trusts in His love, care, and providence.
He emphasizes that true faith is especially revealed during times of trouble, because the believer does not become shaken when facing problems, trusting that God is working and that all things work together for good for those who love God.
Among the fruits of faith are peace, reassurance, calmness, joy, and steadfastness, because the believer entrusts his life to God and does not burden himself with excessive worry about the future.
He also explains that faith enables a person to face things that seem impossible with confidence in God’s power, rather than limiting God’s work according to human reason and abilities.
The Pope also connects faith with prayer, because the person who trusts God leaves his problems in His hands and becomes occupied with God Himself, making prayer a natural fruit of faith.
He further explains that strong faith does not change according to circumstances or feelings, but rests upon firm trust in God’s attributes: His existence, love, care, wisdom, and ability to act.
He explains that accepting Christ does not mean accepting Him only as Lord and Savior, but also accepting Him as Father, Friend, and Lover, and entering into a relationship of love and trust with Him.
The true believer also accepts God’s will with joy and does not complain when certain paths are closed before him, but trusts that God is leading him toward the better path.
Therefore, the teaching calls us to make faith a continuous way of life, rather than something we turn to only during church services or times of crisis.
Spiritual Message
The central spiritual message is to trust God firmly and live in His presence at all times, believing that He loves us, cares for us, and works for our good.
True faith leads to inner peace, joy, and surrender, and frees a person from anxiety, disturbance, and excessive worry.
Educational Lesson
A person learns that the strength of faith is not measured by words alone, but by how much it appears in his life and in the way he responds to troubles, decisions, and the future.
He also learns that virtues are connected to one another, as faith leads to peace, reassurance, purity, prayer, and surrender to God’s will.
Practical Application
A person should place his problems in God’s hands and continue in prayer instead of remaining constantly occupied with worries.
He should keep in his heart the confidence that all things work together for good for those who love God, and that all things are possible for the believer.
He should also accept God’s will with love and should not allow his faith to depend on changing circumstances or feelings, but remain steadfast in God’s love, wisdom, and care.
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