2026: Having the Faith to Believe
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
- Acts 14: 8-10
The first sermon of the year centered on a simple yet sometimes difficult action: having the faith to believe. At first glance, you might think that phrasing sounds almost redundant—aren't faith and belief the same?
But when the Lord tells us it only takes a mustard seed, it puts things into perspective. It reminds us that sometimes, even that tiny grain of belief is hard to find.
We clearly see this tension throughout scripture, where Jesus exclaims, "You of so little faith?" and even asks, "How long shall I stay with you?" (Matthew 17:17).
He was looking for just a small wave of "faith to believe" in the midst of a sea of doubt.
This message shared with us was poured out from Heaven and truly set me in a deep place of reflection on my own faith to believe in what the Lord and the Spirit of God through the people of God had spoken into my life.
But to get there, let’s go back to another sermon that was given to our congregation—this one, during Advent.
To Believe or Not to Believe?
When we look at the ones surrounding the birth of Christ, we see a range of how the human heart responds to a divine promise:
Zechariah: He didn’t believe, and his voice was taken until the promise was manifested (Luke 1:18-20).
Elizabeth: She hesitated initially, but then she leaned in and believed.
Joseph: A righteous man, yet he nearly backed out (Matthew 1:19).
Mary: She was completely, beautifully yielded.
After Mary receives the news that she will give birth to a son (Jesus), she visits her cousin Elizabeth, who at the time was six months pregnant (with John the Baptist). Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, the baby leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, and she’s filled with the Holy Spirit!
What follows is such beauty and power in Elizabeth’s words that connect to Mary’s heart to believe: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" - Luke 1:45
It goes to show how even your faith can stir up those around you to be filled up.
The Bubble of Fear
It makes me think of the innocence of childlike faith. A child has no inherent fear; they walk in full confidence. It is we—the adults—who stifle, limit, and project fear onto them.
In some cases, fear is a necessary teacher, like learning not to touch a hot stove…or iron…(guilty).
However, imagine the extreme, like placing a child in a bubble to keep them "safe."
When you think of all the evil in this world, it seems justifiable; however, keeping someone locked away isn't fruitful. In that bubble, they would become malnourished, atrophied, and not able to fully navigate and confront the world they find themselves in.
Our fear and doubt regarding God’s calling work the same way. It stalls our growth. We hesitate, we waver, or, like Joseph, we try to find a quiet exit when the call feels too heavy.
The "Yes" of a Servant
Then there’s Mary’s response: "I am the Lord’s servant" (Luke 1:38).
Mary was young, a peasant, and lived a simple life. As my pastor explained that reality, one thought ran through my mind:
Instead of focusing on the impossibility of her situation, she saw an Almighty God who found her worthy. She didn’t doubt, because she knew God makes no mistakes. If He said it, He meant it, and He would do it.
Even if it was to happen through her. She may not have understood the method of the miracle, but she knew it would be magnificent, and that was enough to compel her to say "Yes."
Just like the man in Lystra, who had never walked a day in his life, yet felt the Spirit of the Lord stir within him. He may not have understood how his legs could suddenly begin to work, but he had heard enough to believe that this God could do a miracle. By faith, he didn't just listen—he got up.
Both show us this truth: God speaks, we believe, and the impossible begins.
A Magnificent New Year
How much easier would our journey be if we simply decided: "I may not understand the 'how,' but if God is in it, then something awesome, magnificent, and beautiful must follow."
We have this assurance: God’s word does not return void, and He watches over it to perform it (Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 1:12).
As I look at 2026, there are many goals I want to reach and tasks I want to complete. But more than that, I am looking for deeper growth, for richer love, and for the grace to be a completely yielded vessel.
May this be a year of divine birth for every promise, spiritual gift, and opportunity God has in store for you.
Let the newness and goodness of the Lord break through.
Happy New Year—and here’s to 2026.
