The life-giving power of faith
"This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’”
—Romans 1:17 (NLT)
We all experience times of doubt. Doubt, in and of itself, is neither good or bad. Doubt comes when we are confronted by things, situations, decisions, and experiences where we take stock of what we face compared to resources we have internally and externally and are found wanting.
In a world where doubts often lurk at the edges of our faith, the promise of Romans 1:17 shines brightly as a beacon of hope and assurance. It tells us that it is through faith that a person truly experiences life in its fullest and richest sense.
But what does it mean to live a life of faith, and how does it contrast with a life with doubts?
Living a life of faith is akin to walking on solid ground, anchored in the unchanging truth of God's Word. It means trusting in His promises, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. Faith is not blind. It sees beyond the temporal and embraces the eternal. Faith comes from experiencing God’s love and faithfulness through our trust-experiences with Him. It is a steadfast assurance that God is faithful, regardless of the storms that may rage around us.
In contrast, doubt can breed fear. Doubt can rob us of peace and paralyze us in indecision. It whispers lies about our worth and the reliability of God's promises. Doubt that paralyzes us erodes the very foundation of our faith, because faith is the antithesis of doubt.
Notice what Paul, the author of our text, emphasizes at its end: 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Faith grows out of a place of relationship with God. Faith isn’t earning right standing with God. It is because we are “right” with God. It is because He loves us. We trust someone or something because of our experience with them. Faith is expectation of the possibilities of things to come that are not yet realized.
The life-giving power of faith lies in its ability to transform our perspective and renew our hope. Faith enables us to see beyond our present circumstances and envision a future shaped by God's goodness and grace. It empowers us to persevere in the face of adversity and to cling to the promises that God has spoken over our lives. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for. It is the evidence of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Living a life of faith is not without its challenges. There will be moments when we will face doubts, when circumstances seem overwhelming, and when the road ahead appears uncertain. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that our faith is strengthened. It is in the crucible of doubt that we have the opportunity to see faith become reality and certainty.
As we journey through life together at LLUH, hold fast to the promise of Romans 1:17. Let us embrace the life-giving power of faith and allow it to permeate every aspect of our being and our care and interactions with each other.
May our faith be a testimony to the world of the transformative work that God is doing in our lives. And may we walk confidently in the assurance that it is through faith that we truly experience the abundant life that God has promised to those who believe.
—Terry Swenson, DMin, is director of University Spiritual Care.
