Faith vs. Trust

Faith looks forward to fulfillment–Trust looks back at God’s track record!

Faith is generated by knowledge:
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Specifically, the knowledge of God’s Word – not human knowledge, which actually, can be a deterrence to faith.

It is to receive and accept the witness within one’s heart that God’s Word is true, because God’s Spirit always witnesses to the validity of His Word. From the initial step of believing faith unto salvation, the Holy Spirit is at work to witness in the heart of the hearer to accept the knowledge being presented that Jesus Christ is the way to salvation.

When a person acts on this witness that the Gospel story is the truth, and “confesses with his mouth what he believes in his heart, he is saved.” (Romans 10:8–10). He knows he is saved — He may not be able to explain it, expound it, or back  it up with doctrine, but he knows he is saved!

Because “the Spirit of God bears witness with his spirit that he is a child of God.” (1 John 5:6). “Hereby we know that we dwell in him, because he has given us His Spirit” (1 John 4:13). In fact, He has actually “sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, whereby we cry, Abba Father” (Romans 8:16,  Galatians 4:6).

This is faith, and “God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Everyone has the ability to believe  the Gospel, the report of the Lord, and be saved.

Trust is generated by experience.

Trust is the deeply abiding assurance of the soul developed through time, in trials of faith, in which God has proven Himself to be both able to and faithful to perform His Word on behalf of the one who presents his need and commits the outcome to Him.

It is not impulsive, and so is not affected by contrary conditions. Rather, these are answered by the bold, overcoming response of faith. But when endurance is required, and the duration is either unknown or unsure, then trust is the cable that firmly keeps the heart connected to the power source of God’s immutable Word, inexhaustible resources, and unimpeachable character. And all of the are encapsulated into one firm conviction.

It is this undisturbable, unperturbable cushion of trust that allows one to rest in the promises of God, looking forward by faith to their fufillment, in spite of contrary developments, because experience has taught him that God will come through.

Faith lays claim to the promise, believing it to be true, and Trust places expectation on the character of the Promisor to make it good.

About The Author

Sharon

Sharon Hardy Knotts is the daughter of R.G. & Doranne Hardy. She has served alongside of her parents in ministry at Faith Tabernacle Church, Baltimore, Maryland since childhood. Sharon was baptized in the Holy Spirit at age 7 in an old-fashioned tent revival, where she was slain in the Spirit, speaking in tongues. She began “preaching” in youth services at age 9, and began traveling with her father in evangelistic meetings at age 13.

Like her father and grandmother before her (Mother Mary Hardy), Sharon is an avid student of the Bible and holds a Master’s in Theology from CLST, Columbus, Georgia. She is an accomplished teacher of the Word and also an anointed preacher. The marriage of these different delivery styles has produced scores of ministry tapes on various pertinent topics, which appeal to many believers.

Sharon and her husband Benny serve in fulltime ministry at R.G. Hardy Ministries. He prints Faith Is Action and oversees its publication and distribution. Family: Three grown children, Scott & Todd Stubblefield, and Sarah Knotts. Daughters-in-laws: Corinne & Amy Stubblefield. Grandsons: Noah & Matthew Stubblefield are Scott’s sons. Sharon especially enjoys writing and serves as Editor of Faith Is Action and other Ministry publications. She also writes essays and poetry, some of which can be found here.

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