“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” –Hebrews 11:6

It’s been observed that when Christians use the word “faith,” they think of it primarily as a noun. We might use terms such as he “has” or doesn’t “have” faith, she defends “the faith,” or he is worried he’ll “lose” his faith. The downside to thinking about faith only as a noun is that it can be viewed as a commodity one possesses. It becomes a static “thing” that, once acquired, is placed, even displayed in a prominent place in one’s life, often never to be touched or challenged again. For many people, this is why their faith story has more to do with a distant memory of conversion rather than a dynamic maturing of sanctification.

We can see examples of faith as an object (noun) in Scripture—something that is held (Hebrews 4:14), possessed (1 John 1:5), lost and found (Matthew 10:39), or received (1 Timothy 1:16). Yet, when we think of faith also as a verb (or active), it is more associated with spiritual formation, like a muscle being stretched for growth. I like to think of this as “faithing.” This active form of faith expresses believing and trusting in someone or something (John 3:16). It is actively “worked out” or exercised (Philippians 2:12), it is pursued (1 Timothy 6:11), and it should be maturing (Hebrews 6:1).

Therefore, we might say that faith as a verb is “to faith,” where a growing disciple is in a continuous process of “faithing” and there are always next steps to take toward sanctification.

In Matthew 14, Peter gets out of a boat and does something not just amazing, but impossible. He walks on water in pursuit of Jesus. He could’ve stayed in the boat and still had a manageable faith, but his “faithing” stretched him to go further with God, asking Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter wasn’t content with just managing a belief system, he was so enamored with Jesus that his faithing defied even the natural laws of physics.

Shortly thereafter, we see Peter sinking. Has he failed? Has he lost his faith? Or is this, from a faithing perspective, a picture of Peter stretching faith muscles that have never been touched before and constructing a more reliable form of faithing (albeit freaking out a little and getting a personal rebuke from Jesus along the way)?

I believe that Peter’s faith grew significantly that day, as he realized that even in his distractions, doubts, and fears, he wasn’t out of God’s reach. His perception of Jesus and understanding of failure probably changed too—no longer seeing failure as an event that defined him, but a refining step toward experiencing grace and redemption more deeply. His worldview was likely reframed as the storm wasn’t so big anymore and the crisis was a portal to a new more “faithful” perspective.

Where do you need to add faithing to your faith right now? What boat might God be calling you to get out of as an act of faithing, so that you can be stretched beyond your comforts and experience the faithful hand of God in a whole new way? Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace. You have provided everything I need for salvation and sanctification. You have given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. Holy Spirit, help me to identify necessary steps of faithing in my life, and give me the power to act on them obediently. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion:

1. Where do you see people default to a “noun” faith, and where do you see glimpses of “verb” faithing?
2. Often questions of doubt and struggle are signs of a maturing faithing process, not someone “losing their faith.” How might this idea equip you to help those you are discipling right now?
3. What boat (comfort zone) do you need to step out of, to be stretched into a more mature faithing with Jesus?

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