Faith is one of those mysteries that draws us to look deeply at both God’s love and our own response. Many people have asked me, “Father, do I believe because I chose to, or because God gave me faith?” The truth is that faith is both—a divine gift and a human choice. It’s a meeting point between God’s grace and our freedom.
Scripture tells us clearly that faith is a gift. In Ephesians 2:8, St. Paul writes, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Faith begins with God’s initiative. He touches the heart, stirs the soul, and awakens in us the desire to believe. Without His grace, we could not even take the first step toward Him. This is the gentle work of the Holy Spirit, who opens our eyes to see Christ for who He truly is.
Yet at the same time, faith also asks for our “yes.” God never forces belief upon us; He invites us. Like the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, we are free to say, “Let it be done unto me according to your word.” Every act of faith involves our will — a decision to trust, to surrender, to keep walking even when we cannot see the road ahead. This is why Jesus so often asked, “Do you believe?” He calls for a response born of love and trust.
When we say that faith is both a gift and a choice, we mean that God gives the grace to believe, but we must freely receive it. Think of it as sunlight and an open window. The light is freely given, but if we close the shutters, the room remains dark. God constantly shines His light upon us; our part is to open our hearts.
In daily life, this means faith grows each time we choose to trust God—in joy, in uncertainty, in suffering. Each moment we say, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” we let His gift take deeper root within us. Over time, this living faith becomes not just something we have, but something we are — the way we see, love, and live.
Faith is God reaching out to us, and us reaching back to Him. May we never tire of opening our hearts to His grace, trusting that every “yes” draws us nearer to His light.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
