Fear is the most common thing preventing us from moving forward in God’s will. That, we have established. But now I want to take that back. Well,sort of. Because fear, actually is a symptom. A signal of something missing. At its core, fear is a reflection of  a lack of faith. It’s natural to fear, and it’s natural to struggle with faith. But without faith, there is no peace. Isaiah 57:20 says, “Peace, peace, to those far and near, and I will heal them. But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. There is no peace…for the wicked.”

Maybe branding those without faith as “wicked” is a bit harsh on my part, but it’s not all that inaccurate. Without faith, we are sitting prey. One step away from wicked.

So, how to grow faith…that is the question. I did some digging and came up with some strategies for growing my faith, which I plan to implement moving forward. I just hope it goes better than the time I tried to grow my own lawn. After several hundred dollars and hours of back-taxing labor, I had two sprigs and a pile of dirt. We ended up going with the sod afterall. I don’t think there’s a sod option for faith.

1. You must set your mind, and then fortify your heart.

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. And then, Isaiah 51:7 – Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts.

You have to get your mind around what God is saying. Obviously you have to make the transfer to your heart, or you’ll approach it as an academic exercise. But the mind is important. Too often we think about faith coming from the heart. It’s a combo deal.

2. Approach trials as opportunities to sharpen your blade.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul continues, “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Listen, I never said this was going to be easy. (Talking to myself right now).

3. Trust in small doses.

My oldest son loves the pool. We go quite a bit when it’s warm out. He also loves to jump from the side and have me catch him. That wasn’t always the case. When we first started going to the pool, he would wade into the kiddie end very cautiously. After a while, I convinced him to jump from the side, but at first he insisted on hanging on to my fingers as he jumped. After a few successful attempts, he drummed up additional bravery. A little while later, I had to start worrying about him jumping when I wasn’t looking! But it started with very small steps. A long time ago I wrote about surrendering a bit at a time, that it didn’t have to be an all at once or not at all proposition. I think the same goes for faith.

4. Forsake sin.

Remember, if you resist Satan, he will flee from you. To forsake sin, strengthens faith.  Easier said than done.

5. Spend time with God.

Here’s the “well, duh, hello Sunday School” one. But it’s true. Talk to God. Pray. Read. Think. Inquire. And then you will grow.

6. Get comfortable with uncertainty.

You are NOT going to have all the answers. Not even half of them. That’s something that’s been hard for me to accept. But it’s true. After all, in Isaiah 55:8 God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” God is foreign to us. There is uncertainty. Which can breed doubt. Which erodes faith. Which creates fear. Which holds us back. It’s cause and effect at its finest.