The Difference Between Belief and Faith

And He said to her, “Daughter your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

There was a woman in Jesus’ day who had dealt with an infirmity that kept her closed in her house for 12 years. She had gone to the doctors and spent lots of money, but she was not any better. She probably knew of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but her belief didn’t get any results.

One day, she heard about this man named Jesus who was talking about the Kingdom of God and people were getting healed. There was word buzzing on the street in her village that this Jesus was coming. Here is her opportunity to seek another avenue of help. She “believed” Jesus could do something about her physical condition because others were being healed of blindness, lameness and even the dead had been raised. How difficult could her malady be for Him to heal? So she BELIEVED!

She could have stayed home and believed that Jesus was the Healer. She could have talked to friends and family about this man and never stepped out of her house. She could still believe that He was the Healer. Believing means having conviction in something. It means knowing in your mind that something is true.

But faith is taking a step beyond “knowing about someone or something. Our lady with the issue of blood went beyond the believing stage. First, she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” This was her statement of faith. She said with her mouth what she believed in her head. Just knowing or believing and thinking to yourself will not be a step of faith. Our lady went beyond believing and stepped into the realm of faith. She spoke her belief, which was her confession.

Next, she dared to leave her house. Knowing that the penalty of her walking among people was stoning, she knew she was a dead woman anyway so she risked pressing her way through the crowd. Again, her faith had kicked into a high gear. Not only did she speak what she believed, but now she stepped out into the street and DID what was in her heart to do.

When she saw the crowds surrounding Jesus, she knew it was all but impossible to step in front of him and get His attention. But she pressed ahead anyway. This was expectant faith. She believed, she spoke, and she stepped out, now she was expecting something to happen. If she could just press through all those legs and reach the hem of his cloak, she thought, she would be healed. So she pressed and pressed, crawling on her hands and knees, reaching through the legs and . . . there! She touched his robe.

Suddenly all commotion stopped when Jesus, who immediately knew in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” The disciples were flabbergasted saying, “How can we possibly know with all these people pressing in?” But Jesus insisted, “Who touched Me?” And He looked around to see her and their eyes locked with a knowing that it was her who touched. The woman spoke and admitted the whole truth that it was her. Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

Belief will not make any changes in your life, but Faith will. Jesus is looking for those who will go beyond belief and speak their confession and do what they know in their heart. How about you? Are you keeping your beliefs to yourself and still expecting God to heal or protect or change your situation? The Bible says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God."(Hebrews 11:6) Or will you step out in faith by acting on what you believe?

Confession: I know that Jesus can answer me when I call upon Him in faith. I will begin to speak out what I believe in my heart and do what the Holy Spirit tells me to do.