When you hear the word “incoming,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s an incoming call, a message, an email, or even an incoming train or tide. Depending on the situation, it could mean urgency, movement, or something headed your way—fast.
But what if we applied the word “incoming” to our faith? When the next wave of stress, anxiety, or unexpected circumstances rush in—could we maybe have a surge of incoming faith?
If you think about it… where does our faith even come from? Is it really ongoing? Is it on the inside us or outside? I’ve heard some might say you don’t really need faith until you need it. So, what is faith in those quiet moments before a crisis? Is it like a spiritual ointment—something you apply when there’s a wound? A sort of medicine cabinet remedy, tucked away until the moment we whisper, “God, I need You now.”
Can we keep our faith on standby like that or does faith need to be alive, stirred, and always active in our lives, even when the skies are clear? In Hebrews 11:1 the word tells us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Do we need faith for our faith though?
Do We Need Faith… for Our Faith? This is big. Deep. Because if it’s the evidence of things not seen, then faith must go deeper than what we feel. Deeper than what we fear. It’s not just a hope—it’s a spiritual posture. But here’s the thing: even faith itself takes faith.
It takes faith to trust that faith will work. It takes trust to believe that God is who He says He is, even when everything around you says otherwise. When you’re walking through that foggy season—the one where clarity is nowhere to be found are you wondering when your faith is going to show up and make it better? Or do you turn on that activation of it…and let it rise from within you, even in the cloudy environment.
“Incoming!” — When Faith Must Be Activated I once went through something painful—messy, confusing, faith-shaking. And someone told me, “This is where you need to use your faith.” My faith? It caught me off guard. Because you can believe in people… in time… in logic. But when you’re told to use your faith, it’s not about having it—it’s about invoking it. Activating it. Faith doesn’t just sit still. It responds.
But how does it stay activated? That’s pretty straightforward- by relying on God daily—not just when the crisis hits. And by refusing to deactivate it with doubt, discouragement, or pity.
Is Your Faith Alive… or Asleep?
Ask yourself:
- Is my faith bold? Or passive?
- Is it stirred when life feels unfair?
- Do I speak up for God when people mock faith or say, “So much for your God”?
Living faith is outgoing. It moves. It flows. It doesn’t stay boxed in when life gets hard. Outgoing faith means living like we trust God—even when the outcome is unclear.
Faith Is sor tof like Driving a Car Think about getting into your car. You turn the key or push the button and…you expect it to get you from Point A to Point B. That’s faith. But guess what? You also need:
- Gas
- Working tires
- Brakes
- Oil
Faith is all those moving parts. It’s not just belief—it’s preparation.
And when the tire blows? When the journey stalls? That’s when you shout, “INCOMING!”
And that’s when your faith rushes in—for an outgoing trust that keeps you going.
So… Is Your Faith Incoming or Outgoing?
Maybe it’s both.
- Incoming when it washes over you in surrender.
- Outgoing when you live it boldly and trust God in the dark.
Faith isn’t a button we press or a light switch we flip. It’s a relationship, a rhythm, a lifeline—and it’s meant to be used. So, the next time you feel the pressure coming… don’t panic.
Just whisper,
“Incoming…”
…and watch your faith rise to meet it.