Strong faith truly believes in the existence and presence of God, making a person strong in facing all difficulties and hardships. Such a person has no fear of anything. So, if we still feel fear about something, honestly, there is something unresolved in our lives. People with this kind of faith no longer need to convince themselves that God exists, because that conviction has become their life’s rhythm, part of who they are, and integral to their lives. Such people are usually steady in prayer because they are accustomed to dialoguing with God. Their prayers need not be wrapped in beautiful words; what matters is a sincere heart. Consider: who controls the wind? Who controls the oxygen? Who controls the rotation and revolution of the Earth? Who governs this universe? There is Elohim Yahweh, the Most Glorious God. From this, we are convinced that God exists.
Some people live feeling oppressed, defeated, persecuted, as if God does not exist or does not care. Know that God cares and God exists. May each of us experience a revival of faith. Perhaps some among us are undergoing a faith crisis. We have prayed, lamented, cried, served actively in church, even prayed and fasted, yet our hearts remain faint. Why? Because we lack certainty about God’s existence. This issue is complex, though it may seem simple. Believing that God exists is not easy. Many say they believe in God, but their behavior does not show true belief in God’s existence.
Now each of us must learn to have a sincere conviction that God exists, and that conviction must grow firmer day by day. How? By living a holy life. Do not live recklessly. If you commit even the smallest sin, immediately confess and ask God’s forgiveness. Do not let even the smallest sin remain within us. This must be trained. With such practice, the conviction that God exists will continue to grow. We keep dealing with God. That is why we can remain steadfast amid the storms of life. We become strong because we are sure there is a living God. And of course, we are defended by God, provided we do not do things that wound the heart of the Lord.
The life of someone who trains themselves to be convinced that God exists will certainly differ from that of others. It cannot be the same. Why is it different? Because they live under God’s government. Behind human governments or a nation’s government, there is God’s governance in our lives. This governance by God makes our lifestyle different from that of those who do not live under God’s rule. The lifestyle of those living under God’s government indeed differs from that of those who are not. Do not be surprised if those who walk with God are sometimes considered strange by others, as if abnormal or hard to understand. We are occupied with things others are not.
If we are people who commune with God, our lifestyle will certainly be different. The Word of God says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That means we must have a different way of life. To do that, we must undergo continual change of mind (metanoia) through repentance. Transformation (metamorphosis) happens through continual repentance. Repentance is not a once-only event. Each time we do something displeasing to God, however small the fault, we must confess it and ask God’s forgiveness. And we must not repeat the same sin.
This continual change can make a person appear paranoid—not toward people, but toward sin. We may be seen as eccentric. When others are corrupt, we are not; when others make crude jokes, we do not. Indeed, if we desire to live a genuine spiritual life, we will experience a different life. Even our way of defending ourselves may not be to defend ourselves. If we are hurt, wounded, or slandered with evil words, we need not defend ourselves. If we believe that God exists and that God administers His government, then let God be the Judge of their deeds.