What is Faith?

What is faith? How do I get faith? Can I lose my faith? What if I have a doubting faith? Does anyone have a 100% solid faith with no questioning? Does faith only come to a person when/if God allows it? Can I gain faith just by going to church on Sunday? (The quick and simple answer to this last question is “No”.)
These are all common questions that millions of Christians ask themselves on a regular basis.  Many struggle with their faith, and this can cause much distress as in some cases it can tie into one’s eternal salvation.
According to the apostle Paul, “(Now) faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV).
Other biblical definitions of faith are:

<a title="2 Corinthians 5:7” href=”http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Corinthians-5-7/”>2 Corinthians 5:7 – (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Acts 3:16” href=”http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-3-16/”>Acts 3:16 – And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

<a title="Romans 10:17” href=”http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-10-17/”>Romans 10:17 – So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

How does a person get faith or have a stronger faith? For starters, they can pray about it and for it. Often times this involves praying for God to remove lingering doubts.  Doubts enter our minds via other people, and indirectly via Satan.  However, if Christians answer honestly, most do have some form of doubt.  This is because we live in a world of technology and one that is very visual and scientific.  We cannot see faith, truly.  We cannot touch or prove faith.  In that way it is the same scenario as the existence of God himself.  Atheists and other seculars point to the fact that God has not released a clear message to us here in 2014 via the internet or the nightly news, so he must not be real.

Of course, this is a poor argument.  True knowledge involves first acknowledging and admitting that we do not know everything.  Many scientists also have a hard time admitting this, which is hypocritical and foolish.  Just because we cannot see God or analyze him in a Petrie dish does not mean he does not exist.  The same holds true with faith.
Strong faith brings about contentment, calmness, courage, and love.  It is truly the goal which most Christians aspire to.