In spite of what we say and claim to do in his name, religiously or otherwise, God can allow difficult situations to confront us to try our faith in Him. “But without faith, it is impossible to please [God]”. (Hebrew 11:6). He knows that people live amid deceit and swear by His Name, and make mention of God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness and do not truly know Him or have faith in Him. (Jeremiah 9:6; Isaiah 48:1).
So how can one exercise the “faith” that is pleasing to God? To achieve this, “[one] that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. In other words, a faith the pleases God requires that you believe that He is God and that He rewards those who seek him earnestly. (Hebrew 11:6).
Thus, the principal ingredient of faith is ‘believing’ and ‘diligent seeking’ of God. The heart then is very important in assessing our faith “for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10). As the “fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold [the] Lord trieth the hearts to prove our faith in him. (Proverbs 17:3)
2. THE NATURE OF FAITH TRIALS
