A man was struggling with his faith in God. His fiancée was pregnant, but they had never been together, and God had told him to marry her anyway. Now he had to make a choice, just like we all do every day: Does he trust in his own best thinking—what he can see? Or does he put his faith in the unseen God because he trusts in His goodness?

This man was bombarded by “middle-of-the-night” thoughts that he should only trust what he can see, feel, touch, explain, rationalize, and intellectualize. Yet despite these doubts—and the pressure from society—he chose faith. He chose to believe in the invisible God over the visible. He chose to trust in the message delivered to him, even though he couldn’t prove it. And in doing so, Joseph became the earthly father of Jesus.

What might have happened if Jesus had grown up in a broken home without a human father? The story of Joseph is a powerful testament to living by faith, not by sight. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV).

Faith—#20 on my alphabetical list of 70 things every man needs to know—is not about having all the answers or being able to prove everything. Rather, it’s trusting God to do what He has promised—and continuing to trust Him, even when adversity blows unrelenting across the landscape of your circumstances. It’s trusting in His character when what you do see around you seems to contradict His goodness.

All throughout the Bible are stories of men and women who, like Joseph, faced what seemed like impossible situations—and they believed God anyway. You can, too.

Counterfeit vs. Real Faith

First, it’s important to realize that not all faith is equal. One kind of faith, which we might call “whistling through the graveyard faith,” is more about wishful thinking than genuine trust. The goal is to believe hard enough to manipulate outcomes or obligate God to fulfill our desires. This faith is rooted in our personal agendas rather than God’s purposes or promises, and it leads to frustration and disillusionment when expectations aren’t met. It’s a counterfeit faith.

The second kind of faith is rooted in a deep trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness. It holds firm even in times of great difficulty or ambiguity. Consider Moses, trapped at the edge of the Red Sea with an army about to attack, a mutinous people to appease, and nowhere to go. In faith, Moses told his people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13b, NIV). Of course, we all know what happened next — he raised his staff and God made a way through the sea.

Real faith isn’t about getting what we want but believing that God is working all things together for good (see Romans 8:28), even when we don’t understand how.

Characteristics of a Vibrant, Living Faith

Faith is certainly about eternal life, but it’s also about glorifying God in our daily life. Hebrews 11:6 says well, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (ESV).

Living faith is more than intellectual agreement—it’s trusting God moment by moment, in the same way Joseph and Moses did. Here are key characteristics of vibrant faith:

• • Believes God in impossible circumstances.
  • Trusts the Bible even when it defies human logic.
  • Relies on Scripture’s authority over personal reasoning.
  • Lets the unseen reality of God rule over temporary circumstances.
  • Subordinates emotions to the decision to trust Jesus.
  • Trusts God to fulfill every promise in His perfect time.
  • Does not presume on God but trusts in what He has promised.
  • Believes God will supply all needs, measured by His mercy and wisdom.
  • Endures through adversity, trusting God’s faithfulness.

Do you have faith like this? You can. Faith is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it grows.

For reflection and discussion:

1. 1. Where is your faith being stretched to the limit?
   2. What in this article renews or emboldens your faith?
   3. What spiritual discipline could help you strengthen your daily faith?

Patrick Morley, driven by his search for meaning and a deeper relationship with God, started a small Bible study in a bar in 1986. It grew into a global ministry, Man in the Mirror, impacting thousands of churches and millions of men. Inspired by these studies, he wrote The Man in the Mirror, named one of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century. A leading authority on men’s issues, he has authored 22 books and over 750 articles, with his works translated worldwide. Patrick holds degrees from the University of Central Florida, Harvard Business School, Oxford University, and Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife live in Winter Park, Florida, with their family. Patrick’s latest ministry for men can be found at the Patrick Morley website.

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