on Faith

Hope + Time = Belief
Belief + Action = Faith
Faith + Time = Knowledge

I hope for things
I believe things
I know things

These were my thoughts after pondering for many days on what faith was and how it fit into the importance of my life. I do feel that these equations are somewhat true but as I continued to ponder upon these things it seemed as though it was more than just that. So I asked my mom what she thought and she related this experience to me. My brother was in the hospital. He was two and a half. My mother's brother knew a man who lived close who came to give Scott a blessing. During the blessing he was blessed to stop fighting the machinery, to stop spasming, etc. and as soon as "amen" was said Scott drifted into sleep. My mom before believed Scott needed a blessing, and believed it would help, but she was still amazed when he went to sleep. The man turned to her and said, "Weren't you listening? Where's your faith?"

It seems faith is more than the simple equation I'd believed it to be, though I do still think there is some truth to that previous thought. It's like my dad said, "Trying to describe faith in one sentence is like teting to describe Thanksgiving dinner in one sentence. It isn't just that simple."

I believe that a vital factor missing from the equation is Trust. It just might not be enough to say, "I have done all I can to reach this goal and I believe you (meaning God) can the rest happen."
Of course God could, but why would He? He knows exactly what His finishing up what you started would cause down the line, so He may believe it to not be for your best interest...
I think instead that we should be saying, "I've done this much to reach my goal. I believe it to be a worthy goal and hope you endorse it by helping ME to get the rest of the goal accomplished. But if you decide not then alright. Your will be done, not mine."

This shows two important differences of outlook. 1st: You are still willing to work for your own goal. and 2nd: It is about what He KNOWS is best, not just what you WANT.