Faith is not something we create on our own—it is a gift from God, planted like a seed in the soul. When we first come to believe, this seed may feel small, even fragile. Yet Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that even “faith the size of a mustard seed” can move mountains. That is because the power of faith comes not from us, but from the One in whom we believe.
Faith grows through a living relationship with God. Like any relationship, it deepens when we spend time together—when we pray, listen to His Word, and allow His presence to shape our thoughts and desires. Scripture, the Sacraments, and quiet moments of prayer are the sunlight and water that help faith take root and flourish. The more we turn our hearts to God, the more we begin to see life through His eyes.
Often, faith grows most deeply through trials. When everything is easy, we may think we are strong. But it is in seasons of darkness and uncertainty that faith learns to trust—not in feelings, but in God’s unchanging love. In those moments, we discover that true faith is not just believing that God exists, but believing in Him—resting in His goodness even when we cannot see the way ahead.
And faith matures when it becomes love in action. St. James writes that “faith without works is dead.” When our trust in God moves us to forgive, to serve, to hope, and to love even when it costs us something, faith becomes fully alive. It grows each time we let grace shape our choices, our words, and our hearts.
Faith begins as a gift, but it grows through friendship with Christ. May we nurture it each day with prayer, trust, and love—so that our hearts become the good soil where God’s Word bears fruit.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
