Mark 5:33-34 CEB: “The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. He responded, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.’”

Genesis 16:13-14 NIV: “[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.”

The spiritual gift of faith strengthens you to trust and follow the direction of the Spirit, even when the destination or outcome is uncertain. Though faith is something that all Christians engage in their spiritual lives, your spiritual gift in this area gives you a particular attention to letting go and trusting in the unknown aspects of life. In this unique way, you feel confident moving with the Spirit and acting in accordance with God’s justice, love and compassion for the world even when the outcomes seem hopeless, distant or unknown. When situations call for it, you are often among the first who are ready to step out and try something new and unknown.

At its core, faith is a willingness to let go of your preconceived notions, your desired outcomes, or fear and judgment, and to follow the movement of the Spirit. Those with this gift might appear hasty to some but have a strong sense of God’s presence in all things and are driven by a secure trust in God. As such, they may be less deterred by anxieties and reservations because of a strong sense that the Spirit is moving and that God is truly with us. This gift helps with decision-making, experimenting and taking spirit-led risks to move human systems and relationships more closely toward God’s kingdom on earth. Those with this gift help communities of faith move forward and feel more emboldened to engage in new expressions.

Some ways in which the gift of faith might show up in your spiritual and communal life:

• Saying yes to an invitation to join a small group.
• Volunteering to lead the first-ever version of a program because you trust in its vision.
• Taking the leap and exploring seminary education even if you feel unsure.

Looking for more opportunities? We encourage you to reach out to your local synod. Connect, collaborate and co-create with peers through the ELCA Leadership Network.