One of the ways I know that faith is important is that I observe that it is kind of tricky.  It can get messed up and misplaced.  My believing is often a mixture of faith and doubt.

Jesus talked a lot about faith.  He knew that people would struggle with it and so He was careful to point out that a little goes a long way.

He always challenged people to have more of it but then He also said that faith that was as small as a mustard seed could be used by God to change the world.  Mustard seeds are very small but produce great big plants when they germinate and grow.  It’s a good illustration (Thanks, Lord. You really have a way with words.)

The tricky thing about faith for me is that I have to be careful about what I trust.  People will fail and so will institutions like the government and church.  And I recognize that I am not all that faithful even on my best days.

But God is faithful.  I feel way better about my future, including what happens after death, when I realize that my eternity is out of my hands, which are too weak to hold me anyway.

The hands of Jesus are very strong, even with nail holes in them.  Wait—I should have said, especially with nail holes in them.