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I'll be the first to admit - having faith is hard. No joke - having to trust that despite all the odds and despite all the uncertainty, the Lord is in control and will provide - is not easy. 

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

I often try to take matters into my own hands, and I miss out on the divine blessings that I could have had, IF I just would have been patient and had faith that God would take care of all my needs. 

As I've learned more and more to trust in God, I've realized just how important my faith in God is and wanted to share with you 5 of the key reasons why I believe having faith is so crucial to a peaceful existence -

1. Faith is a Gateway to Miracles

As humans we find comfort in security and in our control of situations directly impacting our lives. As a result, when these situations seem to get out of the realm of our control, we hastily act to bring them back under our sphere of influence. In this haste, we often execute on clouded judgement that makes these even more unstable than they were. Luckily, we have a much better alternative - that alternative is having faith that God is in control. 

Rather than acting with our limited knowledge and often clouded judgement, we are instructed to put our faith in God. And, as a result of our faith, God is able to step in and work miracles. The verses below are just a few of the testimonies of people who had faith and witnessed the miracles of God. 

Hebrews 11:32-35 "An what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection"

Hebrews 11:11 "By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised."

If God was able to work miracles then, why would we ever doubt that He could do the same for us?

2. Faith in God Is Necessary for Peace

As we lose the feeling of security and being in control, we experience worry and fear of the unknown and it's uncertainty. But as we learn to let go of that fear, we also gain the peace of knowing God will take care of us. 

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

We can have peace knowing that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has already won the battle. He has already obtained victory over sin and death, and through him, we are also conquerors. 

3. Faith is the Gateway to Fulfillment

Faith leads to fulfillment. As we learn to have faith, we realize that the only thing that matters and the only way we can be fulfilled is by having faith. We develop a certainty - not in the world or the situations we may encounter - a certainty that God is more than enough. He and Him alone is all that we need. 

James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Faith leads to fulfillment. We find our purpose in following God despite uncertainty.

4. Faith is Necessary to Please God

Without faith, we cannot give ourselves fully to God. We remain shackled to the burden of our minds and finite abilities. Faith is what enables us to carry out the will of God, despite what we want or think we need. 

Hebrews 11:5-6 "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

We must learn to let go of our own agendas. Because at the end of the day, pleasing self is not worth giving up the reward of pleasing the God who holds the universes in His hands and who cares us enough to send His only Son to die on the cross for us. 

5. Faith is A Gift

Perhaps the most important aspect of faith is that it is a gift. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life. So that we could rest assured in Him. 

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

Faith is an action. It is an intentional decision to accept that God, who we cannot see, is in control and will always be in control. It is the decision to accept that only through Jesus Christ do we have a chance at eternal life. And this action, is only an option, because of the gift of sacrifice Jesus paid for us on the cross. 

As you traverse the hills and valleys of life, remember you're not alone. God is your greatest friend and ally and your faith in Him is not only paramount to your existence, but is a gift.