What if everything you thought you knew about faith was just the beginning?
In our first article, we encountered Jesus’ penetrating question: “Where is your faith?” We discovered that this isn’t a question of condemnation but of awakening—a divine invitation to locate and activate the faith that God Himself has authored within us. Today, we continue our journey by exploring faith as God originally designed it, and how this understanding can revolutionize the way we live and love.
Last week, we left with the image of Jesus in the boat, calming the storm with a word and then asking His disciples about the location of their faith. But to truly understand the depth of this question, we need to go back—way back—to the very beginning, to a garden where faith was as natural as breathing.
The Original Blueprint
In the beginning, faith wasn’t a struggle—it was a lifestyle. Adam and Eve lived in perfect trust with their Creator, walking with Him in the cool of the day without fear, doubt, or hesitation. Faith wasn’t something they had to work at; it was the natural expression of being in right relationship with God.
Picture it: no anxiety about tomorrow, no questioning God’s goodness, no wondering if He could be trusted. They lived in complete confidence that their Creator was completely good, completely wise, and completely committed to their welfare. This is faith as God designed it—not a leap in the dark, but a walk in the light of His character.
“In Eden, faith wasn’t extraordinary—it was ordinary. It wasn’t supernatural—it was natural.”
But here’s what’s remarkable: when God looks at you today, He sees not just who you are, but who you were designed to be. He sees not just your current struggle with trust, but the Eden-potential within you. Every time He asks, “Where is your faith?” He’s calling you back to your original design.
The Heart Behind the Question
When Jesus asked His disciples about their faith, He wasn’t expressing disappointment—He was expressing expectation. He knew what faith looked like when it was operating at full capacity because He had designed it that way from the beginning.
Think about it: would a master craftsman be confused about how his own creation is supposed to function? Would an architect be puzzled by the blueprint of his own design? God knows exactly what faith looks like because, as Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, He is “the author and finisher of our faith.”
The word “author” in the original Greek is archegos—it means originator, pioneer, the one who goes first. God didn’t just give us faith; He pioneered the path of faith. He showed us what it looks like to trust completely, to hope against hope, to believe in the invisible because of confidence in the Eternal.
Faith as God’s Response Mechanism
Here’s a truth that might surprise you: God doesn’t need your faith to act, but He chooses to respond to it. Faith isn’t about manipulating God to get what we want—it’s about aligning ourselves with what God wants to do.
Scripture tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). But why? Is God so insecure that He needs our faith to feel good about Himself? Of course not. Faith pleases God because it represents the restoration of the relationship He intended from the beginning.
When you trust God despite contrary evidence, you’re not just solving your immediate problem—you’re participating in the cosmic restoration project. You’re allowing Eden to break through into your current reality. You’re giving God the opportunity to demonstrate His faithfulness not just to you, but through you to a watching world.
The Fruit That Must Come
“If His word is planted in you, there has to be fruit!” This isn’t a threat—it’s a promise. When God’s Word finds good soil in a trusting heart, fruit is inevitable. Not because we work to produce it, but because that’s the nature of planted seed in prepared ground.
But what does this fruit look like? It’s not just answered prayers or resolved circumstances, though those may come. The fruit of faith is a transformed life—a life that reflects God’s character and demonstrates His reality to others.
You become someone who can sleep peacefully in storms because you know who controls the wind. You become someone who can face uncertain tomorrows because you know who holds the future. You become someone who can love difficult people because you’ve experienced God’s love for you at your most difficult moments.
“Faith doesn’t change your circumstances first—it changes you first. Then your changed life begins to change your circumstances.”
The Joy Set Before Us
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him.” What joy? The joy of restored relationship. The joy of redeemed humanity. The joy of seeing faith planted and flourishing in the hearts of His people.
Every time you choose faith over fear, trust over worry, hope over despair, you’re participating in that joy. You’re adding to the celebration that began when the first human said “yes” to God and will continue until the last human comes home.
Your faith isn’t just about your personal relationship with God—it’s about the cosmic story He’s writing. When you trust Him in small things and big things, in good times and hard times, you’re playing your part in the greatest story ever told.
From Perfect to Practical
You might be thinking, “This all sounds beautiful, but what about real life? What about when faith feels impossible and trust seems naive?” These are honest questions that deserve honest answers.
The truth is, we’re not living in Eden anymore. Faith is harder now because sin has clouded our vision and confused our hearts. But—and this is crucial—faith is not impossible now because the Author of faith lives within us by His Spirit.
You don’t have to manufacture Eden-level trust on your own. You have access to Eden-level resources through your relationship with Jesus. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in you, and He’s the One who authors and finishes your faith.
When faith feels impossible, that’s not the time to give up—that’s the time to remember whose faith you’re living by. When trust seems naive, that’s when you need to look not at your circumstances but at your Savior.
The Faith That Transforms
Real faith—Eden-designed faith—doesn’t just get you through hard times; it transforms those times into opportunities for God to show His power and love. This is why God allows storms in our lives. Not to destroy us, but to provide stages for His faithfulness to be displayed.
Every challenge you face is an opportunity for Eden-faith to break through. Every impossibility you encounter is a chance for the God of all possibilities to show up. Every mountain in your path is an invitation to watch Him move it or give you the strength to climb it.
The disciples learned this truth. After witnessing Jesus calm the storm, they were never quite the same. They had seen Eden-power at work, and it changed their understanding of who was in their boat and what was possible when they trusted Him completely.
Your Faith Journey Continues
As we prepare for our final exploration next week, take time to consider this: God’s original design for faith is still His desire for your faith. The trust that Adam and Eve experienced in the garden is available to you through Jesus Christ.
The question isn’t whether you have enough faith—the question is whether you’re allowing the Author of faith to write His story through your life. Are you giving Him permission to restore Eden-level trust in your heart? Are you open to discovering that faith is less about what you do for God and more about what God wants to do through you?
What would change in your life if you truly believed that the God who designed faith is committed to developing it in you?
In our final article, we’ll explore the practical steps to cultivating faith that not only pleases God but transforms your daily experience. We’ll discover how to move from asking “Where is your faith?” to declaring “Here is my faith, Lord—use it for Your glory.”
The Eden-life isn’t just a memory—it’s a destination. And faith is how we get there.
