Faith Comes When You Hear About Grace

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. If you can see it, you don't need faith for it.

Oftentimes, when we talk about faith, people will feel condemned, like it is something they have to muster up. Faith comes when you hear something and believe it.

In Romans, Paul tells us how faith comes. So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (NLT)

In the Gospels, we see stories of people hearing about Jesus, and coming to Him. One of my favorites is about the woman with issue of blood. I especially like the story in Mark's Gospel.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”-Mark 5:25-34 (NKJV)


The Bible says she had been that way for a long time, twelve years. She hadn't been hearing about Jesus during that time. She had been looking for help elsewhere. But when she started hearing stories about Jesus, faith in Him arose in her heart. And she received her miracle.

But there is still one more piece that is a part of this story. Grace. That woman, under law, was not supposed to come in contact with other people. She was considered unclean. So, I believe that not only did she hear that Jesus would heal her. She heard that it was safe to be in His presence. She heard that He would not condemn her but love her. She heard that she was forgiven for whatever was potentially holding her in bondage. She heard that He was a healer.

So, that's what we need to hear, stories about Jesus, stories that build our faith in Him, and what He has done for us. We need to hear stories of His grace for us and that He is a healer.

We don't need to hear people's opinions, or about ourselves-those things aren't faith builders. We need to hear about Jesus, just like she did, just like it says in Romans 10:17 and that will change what we believe.

We need to hear it until it roots up all the weeds. We need to heart it until it becomes as real as the next breath we take.

You and I are no different than that woman with the issue of blood. He is saying the same things to you as He did to hear. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace and be healed of your affliction."


For by grace you have been saved (sozo-saved, healed, preserved, rescued ) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)