Faith over fear”” is a phrase used often today by believers who are trying their best to encourage their believing friends that the things of this world do not have power over us. 2020 was a year of fearful events and 2021 is stacking up to match it and possibly raise it a notch or two. The little phrase “faith over fear” is more than a catch phrase to put on a t-shirt or mug, it’s the truth. Several years ago, I read a book by Kelly Clark titled When Faith is Not Enough. These words were words written after reading his book, but I feel like are so applicable to today. 

The book covers many examples of biblical faith as it makes its case for us believers today, but I truly believe one of our most dependable, faith-filled biblical heroes is Abraham. Abraham had a journey few of us could have walked out, yet he did it. How did Abraham do what he was called to do? I’m talking about the “following God to the possible killing of his son” part of his story, however there are many more “faith-followed” Abraham stories. So how did he do it? The only answer is he had to depart from earthly wisdom and cling to the faith he had come to know. He had to embrace the incredible, the unbelievable. He had to act when he did not understand. He had to walk by faith, not by sight. 

To the unbeliever, this cannot be understood. To the passerby, perhaps the servants who watched Abraham prepare for this journey with his son, this was absurd. But, Abraham knew what God had promised Him, “Through Isaac, descendants will be named after you.” He didn’t know how, but he knew God would make it happen. That is why Abraham is called the father of faith. 

So, what is faith? Is it tackling life with no doubt? Or is it tackling life with doubt, but going ahead anyway. Faith is a life with a lot of doubt, but trusting and doing anyway. I see faith so vividly in our newest babies. I’m sure you do to. The younger a child is, the more likely they are to jump from a high table into the arms of whoever is reaching out for the catch. It’s only as children get older, that doubt arises. Will that someone catch me? It’s the older child who chooses to act even though there is a “butterfly in the stomach” moment right before the jump who has truly learned with faith is. 

It’s believing when we’re uncertain. Does that make sense to you? 

The model of faith we see in Abraham is that faith is a journey. It’s a journey to receive what is promised by God. Hebrews 11: 13-16 says, “Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a city waiting for them.”

The scriptures emphasize these words, hoping, yearning, and seeking God, rather than attaining with certainty. Faith is a longing, a hoping, a desire to journey to the end and to find one’s way back to fellowship with God and humans. It says, this world is not my home and it seeks a true home. 

Faith is a glimpse, a moment of insight when we see our future home and commit ourselves to completing the journey. And even when we are not intellectually convinced, faith keeps our feet on the path. 

You see, faith really doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not Abraham would have sacrificed his son; what matters is God did. God sent His son to earth to stand in our place for the sins we hadn’t even committed yet. 

The incarnation of Jesus is actually offensive to common sense. But it’s this unbelievable event that makes faith appealing. That an omnipotent God could appear as both a compassionate lover and merciful judge and then mingle with us humans is another absurdity. This is the message sent from God. No human being could have dreamed up this story. 

Intellect and will cannot lead us to God. We cannot save ourselves; we must accept faith as a gift. When we seek forgiveness and accept a life of faith, we accept the embrace of God in Jesus Christ.