There once was a tightrope walker who was crossing Niagara Falls. After he had held the crowds spellbound with his daring, he asked, “How many of you believe I could cross the tightrope again, this time pushing a wheelbarrow with someone riding in it?”

The crowds applauded. They were sure he could do it. But then he said, “Who will volunteer to ride the wheelbarrow?”

There was a vast silence. The audience had just been reminded of the vital difference between belief and trust. It’s one thing to believe that the wheelbarrow would make it safely across the chasm. It’s quite another thing to put your life on the line. That’s the kind of faith that is genuine!

How can we best learn to trust someone? By getting to know them. Paul trusted Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1:12 he wrote, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed.”

We can get to know God like that, too. Here's how:

1. Listening to Him (Romans 10:17)
2. Talking to Him (Philippians 4:6; Luke 11:9-13)
3. Working with Him (Matthew 11:29)

But how do we acquire faith? Is it something that we work on or do we screw up our energy as tight as possible until it comes? The Bible tells us that faith is a gift from God. He has given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) and is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our faith gets better and better the more we work on getting to know God through the three avenues above. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more genuine it becomes.

God's Will Revealed

When we are walking with God in this way, God will help us to be certain of His will. We will tell us, help us, guide us throughout our lives. There are three ways that God reveals His will to us.

1. Through His Word (Psalm 119:105; Joshua 1:8). The Scriptures are a very reliable source of finding God’s will on any given subject. Much wisdom can be obtained regarding finances, parenting, or any number of moral issues. If you need guidance on a matter, always consult the Bible for guidance first.

2. Through providence or circumstances (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37:23). God will often bring circumstances into our lives in order to reveal His will to us. When we are in prayer regarding life decisions such as a job or residence, we need to look for open or closed doors.

3. Through direct communication to the heart (Acts 8:26-40). Sometimes the Holy Spirit will impress upon your heart His will to you. Often times it is helpful to pray very specifically to the Lord regarding certain matters that we are unclear about.

An example of this is one person who prayed about an offered job opportunity. They prayed that if this job opportunity were in God’s will for them, their excitement would continue to grow stronger and stronger. And if this were not God’s will, that He would take this idea away.

As soon as that prayer was uttered, the person couldn’t even remember the name of the company. They knew instantly that it was not God’s will for them. Six months later, the company folded! God knows the end from the beginning. By being in the very center of His will we have peace in our lives.