Faith: a definition with examples

There’s this moment right before it starts raining – a slight pause before the first water starts falling from the sky. It’s a moment of pure anticipation, as if the earth is holding her breath for what’s to come. Like a little kid pinching their nose before jumping into the ocean or a pool of water. Earth waits (for just a heartbeat) before the rain starts to fall. One drop at a time, until every open space is drenched, and as if what happened previously is washed away.

Finding a definition for faith can feel tricky - but it is a lot like the pause before the rainfall.

In the film, Under The Tuscan Sun, they tell the story of the train tracks over the Alps. “They say they built the train tracks over the Alps before there was a train that could make the trip. They built it anyway. They knew one day the train would come.” 

I believe this is true for many things in life. In the season of life that I am in right now I am constantly thinking about these things and asking these questions. Where will this road take me? Am I wasting my time and my energy? Should I rather follow a thoroughly-treaded path into the town called Familiar?

Consider the definition of faith from the Book of Hebrews in the Bible: (Heb 11:1)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" 

They built the train tracks before there was a logical explanation. In a recent newsletter I used the example of a stage that we build by faith – and the size of the stage will determine the magnitude of the performance. It is easy to say that we have great ideas, and that we have great plans to put these ideas into motion. Anybody can do that. Character is tested when you are asked to put time, effort, and money into something that does not make any sense.

They built it anyway.

What would faith look like in your own life?

Do you allow yourself to build the train tracks, the stage, the ark (?) before it makes sense? It’s very difficult to do something without being able to explain your reasoning behind it. You can be going strong on your own and making some progress when someone comes along and pulls rug right out from under your feet by asking something simple like ‘why?’. Why keep pouring yourself into something that you are not guaranteed will succeed?

They knew that one day the train would come that could make the trip. An act of hope can be likened to planting a tree or having a child – you are not guaranteed that the world they grow up in will be wonderful, but you hope that they will make it a little bit better for those that cross their path. You don’t even get to see the fruits they bear, of if they grow up and have children of their own. With most of the important things in life, you simply have to trust and hope that there will be a way. 

The faith of a mother setting the table

I heard a testimony of a mother who set the table for dinner while there was no food in the house. She still put a vase with flowers in the middle, and carefully set out the plates and cutlery for herself, her husband, and their three kids. The kids peeked up at the table with curious eyes. What was she doing? Didn't she know there was no food? I imagine them sitting down at the table, hearing the clock ticking away, and even praying for the non-existent meal... Then came the knock at the door. If I remember correctly a delivery vehicle broke down with bread and milk that would spoil, so it was offered to them.

Do you see the faith in that story?

Faith in God's Promises

Recently (2025), I scrolled on social media when I saw an interesting video. A man named Noah is building an Ark, claiming there will be a flood like the one in Genesis. Now whether this is true or not isn't the point - I "ran" to the comment section and was impressed with what I saw. Instead of panic and the expected chaos following such a video, I read the comments in awe: "No way. God promised in Genesis that He would never flood the earth again." "This Noah obviously missed the rainbow promise."

What blew me away was not the words, but the faith behind them. These people - scrolling on their little screens like I was - responded with faith. They did not only KNOW they words of Scripture, they BELIEVED them to be true.

Reflection on the definition of faith

So I am holding my breath with mother earth for many things – for the hope that a train will come, that the performance will fit the size of my stage, and for the belief that rain will fall again.

• Based on the examples given here, what would faith look like in your own situation right now?

• Pray and ask God to give you the gift of faith (it is a spiritual gift, See: 1 Cor 12:9 & Eph 2:8-9)

• Let's talk in the comments: Do you have anything to add? Do you know another testimony of faith?

May you continue to abide in the Vine, filled with faith and hope in His good promises that are true!