“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus solemnly addresses His disciples, that they must become like little children, low in status and completely dependant on God. He is not asking them to be naïve or ignorant, but to be humble and have faith in God. When you point to the sky and tell a child that it is the sun that gives us light, the child believes the grown up, without any hesitation, because he knows the grown up is knowledgeable.

When the child grows, he becomes inquisitive and begins to reason and ask questions as to why  and how things operate. This enhances his curiosity and learning. As grownup individuals, we find it easy to believe when we see things clearly, but faith is often tested in the obscurity, in moments when our soul is in darkness. Faith challenges us to believe when we do not perceive things clearly. Faith is a divine gift and also a theological virtue. Faith is given to us by God; therefore, it is supernatural. Faith is also a virtue, which needs to be developed. Even in the most darkest moment, when nothing is clear, a believer is empowered with faith, divinely by God. On the other hand, a believer also must take the initiative to exercise the faith and develop and build faith through virtue. Obscurity is the key component that enables the development of faith. 

Faith inspires us supernaturally; therefore, we are able to believe, even though we don’t see it. We are able to know things that are beyond human comprehension. Our faith is God’s gift of love, given freely to us. When we believe and trust Him in the obscure moment, we show our faith in God, and it is us loving God. Faith is waiting for our Redemer. Faith is given, but faith is also shared. Faith is trusting God even when we do not see Him. Jesus tells His disciples, that blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Growing in faith can, at times, be painful because it challenges us not only to believe but also to act in faith. Faith is never passive, it requires action. Passively believing is easy but faith is active and requires momentum; therefore, it is faith that moves mountain. Jesus tells His disciples that “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”. So, we know that faith, even little faith, can do impossible things and can move mountains, which means it gets things moving.

Faith, at times, can be overwhelming, because it will demand for one to move from one’s comfort zone. The genuineness of your faith… is tested by fire (1 Peter 1:7). Faith always grows when tested, when it is proved to be worthy. These tests comes to every believer, and like every test, we can either prepare and excel or withdraw and fail. 

How can one grow in faith, when things are not clear? Obscurity is a great challenge and an obstacle to grow in faith; however, it can also create an environment for faith to excel. A seed grows in darkness, beneath the soil, hidden from the surface. Similarly, one must move beyond the obscurity to grow in faith, just like the seed pushes through the soil to reach for sunlight. One must wrestle against the darkness of the soul, to reach God, the giver of all light. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). One needs to completely surrender in the hands of God, obey Him, and He will lead us in the correct path.

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