Faith and Its Challenges

Introduction

• Increasing struggle with faith today
• Common concerns:
  • Difficulty believing
  • Feeling like prayers are unanswered
  • Not gaining insight from the Bible
  • Questions and doubts about evidence
• We all experience these struggles

Key Question

• If God were real, would you rely on Him?
• If Jesus stood beside you, would you trust him?
  • Most would say yes, 100%
• Faith is making the leap from doubt to trust

Foundational Concepts

Faith as a Choice

• Faith is a definitive 'yes,' not a 'maybe'
• Based on trust in a person, not evidence or ideology
• Requires doing the homework for an informed choice

Need for Grace

• We can't choose faith alone; we need God's grace
• Jesus: "You can't come to me unless the Father draws you"
• Grace helps us understand and accept faith
• God offers grace freely, but we must receive and respond to it
• Open to grace for clearer understanding

Practical Tips for Building Faith

Spiritual Adoption

• Analogy: child being adopted by a loving family
• We are adopted by God at baptism
• Trust in God's eternal, lifegiving love
• Love is internal, always available

Staying Connected to Grace

• Grace is God’s life flowing through us
• Requires active participation (like Master and Apprentice)
• Need to avoid sin which blocks grace
• Regular confession to seek God's mercy

Daily Habits

1. Scripture Reading (Morning):
   • Read a few paragraphs from the Bible/spiritual book
   • Ask, "What do you want to show me today?"
2. Prayer (Daily):
   • Approach prayer as living in the Holy Spirit
   • Let go, sit in silence, and be present
3. Evening Reflection (Night):
   • Review thoughts and actions of the day
   • Identify moments of alignment/misalignment with God’s will
   • Plan for better actions tomorrow

Addressing Doubts

Intellectual vs. Spiritual Doubts

• Intellectual doubts: Seek answers (2000 years of resources)
• Spiritual doubts: Recognize as temptation, dismiss them

Faith Over Feelings

• Faith isn’t tied to fleeting human emotions
• Early disciples, saints, Mother Teresa trusted God despite lack of feeling
• True faith is knowing, not feeling

Making the Choice

• Firm decision to trust God, without waiting for signs or feelings
• Trust based on God’s word and consistency
• "Blessed are those who believe without seeing or hearing"

Conclusion

• Faith is trust in a person (God), not conditional on evidence or feelings
• Encouragement to trust more deeply and rely on divine grace

Gratitude and Support

• Importance of community support
• Encouragement to help reach more people
• Prayers and blessings for all viewers