There are three levels of faith in the Christian experience. The first is being able to believe only when we see some sign or have some strong emotion. Like Gideon, we feel the need to fleece God and are willing to trust God if it our fleece is wet. This may be faith but it is imperfect. This imperfect or immature and undeveloped faith has us continually looking to feelings or some other sign instead of the Word of God. We have taken a great step towards maturity when we trust God without relying on our feelings. It is more of a blessing when we love without experiencing any emotion. While the first level of faith believes when our emotions are favorable, the second believes when all feelings are absent. And the third level transcends the other two, for it is faith that believes God and His Word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reasoning all seem to urge something contrary. Paul exerted this level of faith when he said, ‘When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved’ (Acts 27:20), then nevertheless went on to say, ‘Keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me’ Acts 27:25). May God grant us faith to completely trust His Word, even when every other sign points the other way.”
- P.K.

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