Faith, the concept of having confidence in something regardless of whether it is grounded in facts, is often the only thing that offers consolation to people. However, it is beneficial during hard times and can inspire people to be and do better when they are already living well. This concept is most frequently associated with different religions and their deities, the Christian God, the Muslim Allah, or one of the many Hindu Gods. One of the most common arguments of those that do not believe in a higher power is the unfounded nature of faith. Charles Spurgeon notes, “To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust him in the dark, that is faith.” And disbelievers fail to notice their hypocrisy since they practice faith every day, the only difference being the object of faith. While these people might ignore the messages from the Lord, discarding them as unscientific or unbelievable, they have faith in themselves, other people, and incredibly important life.
First and foremost, humans are social creatures, and therefore most individuals will, throughout their lives, interact with thousands of other individuals. Having faith in the other person is crucial whenever there is any social or romantic interaction. There is no way of knowing what goes on inside someone else’s mind, and yet a person must choose to trust another blindly to make meaningful connections. Saint Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” And it is perfectly evident on a daily basis – once a person begins to show faith in another, they show themselves deserving of that faith.
Equally, if not, more importantly, is a person’s faith in oneself. Throughout one’s life, everyone makes mistakes and encounters obstacles; however, it is faith in the eventual success that has the power to keep one going. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “If you lose money you lose much, If you lose friends you lose more, If you lose faith you lose all.” From this, one can learn that nothing is lost completely as long as there is still faith. By having that seemingly unfounded confidence in oneself, a person can find the strength and motivation needed to change his or her current situation. Furthermore, faith helps alleviate the anxiety surrounding failure (“5 Reasons Why Having Faith Is So Important”,” 2020). Children are the most prominent examples of such faith, as they keep trying no matter how many times they fall. It is the faith in the different outcomes the next time, in their own strength and ability, that allows them to grow and develop.
However, it can be difficult to maintain motivation and faith in life without the sense of a higher purpose. For some people, it means believing in God; for others – in the power of astrology or manifesting, or millions of other things that are unexplainable and yet help people live another day. Mother Teresa said, “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” And the wisdom of it lies in the fact that faith does not have to be a grand gesture of believing in scripture or blindly following someone else. Faith starts small and inside a person and can take many forms. It is important for the sake of human interaction and maintaining motivation, but it does not have to be religious.
Work Cited
“5 Reasons Why Having Faith Is So Important.” Wanderlust Worker, 2020. Web.