Stepping Stones: Difference between Hope and Faith

Transformational Tip

I just watched a documentary about the life of Philippe Petits, the daring tight rope walker in the 1970’s. Amongst other feats, he walked on a high wire between the World Trade Center twin towers.

Imagine, for a moment, you are standing there in the crowd, just before Philippe begins to push a wheelbarrow between the towers. He turns and asks the crowd; “do you believe I can accomplish this feat?” Knowing his reputation you would most likely say ‘yes’. In other words you have “faith” that he will succeed.

But then he turns to you and says; “If you really have faith I can do it, just hop into the wheelbarrow and take the trip with me.” Accepting his invitation would be an example of remarkable and true faith.

Would you hop in? I wouldn’t?…but why? Because my “faith” wasn’t real faith. If I were 100% confident in the promise of getting to the other side safely…real faith…I wouldn’t have any problem going for a quick and memorable ride. What I had was just hope…I hoped(wanted it to be true) he could get the wheelbarrow across safely, but I wasn’t 100% confident he was absolutely truthful.

Hope, wanting something to be true, is easier to come by than faith, knowing it to be true and then following up with action based on that faith. God has made many promises. Do you have faith, acting as if His promises are true? Or, do you just hope they are true, but you put your faith in the world or your own system.

Your actions show what you really have faith in. What do your actions show?

Today, if you truly want to be “anxious about nothing”, get into that wheelbarrow and put your life into His care. If you feel upset or worried, examine what you are putting your faith in…I bet a wheelbarrow ride it’s not God.

Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts hope vs. faith.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I do want to have faith and trust you, but faith isn’t coming easily for me. I know, Lord, that it is You alone that is worthy of complete trust. I pray that You will teach me how to trust You completely…to lean on You strength and be anxious for nothing. I pray in the name of Your Son who trusted You completely, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7,8