The 5 Phases of Faith

By: Lysa Terkeurst

I believe God gives every person a dream. Not the same dream, of course, but a dream that is especially tailored for their talents and His purposes. Each person receives a dream that only they are destined to fulfill.

But just as the Israelites were promised a land flowing with milk and honey only if they had the faith to move ahead and take the promised land, so too does every person with a dream face obstacles that would keep them from God’s best for them. The Israelites had to overcome giants in the land. Those giants struck fear in the heart of those to who the promise was given. Some drew back as a result. Discouragement set in. Fatigue, impatience, unbelief…all of these were common to those men and women who spent 40 years in the desert because they simply couldn’t walk in faith toward the destiny God had called them to.

I meet many people who know in their hearts that God has great things for them. But with every advancing step, they meet obstacles. Giants are in their promised land. And they experience those same feelings of discouragement, fatigue, and unbelief.
Let me ask you this: What is the dream God has given you? Maybe you can’t quite put it into words except to say that you know that God wants to use you. But how that’s to happen…you’re not quite sure.

There are five phases I’ve identified in the Bible common to people who have stepped out with God in pursuit of their dream. Different biblical characters weathered these same five phases and we would do well to recognize these phases in our own faith walk. As you learn about these phases of faith, you’ll avoid the discouragement and defeat so many of us have gotten bogged down in along the way. I pray that you will be able to press through, walk confidently, and avoid doubting God.

These are the five phases of faith you’ll pass through to achieve your dream:

1. Leaving: In order to go to a new level of faith with God, you’ve got to leave the old behind. God’s truth: He has a plan for me.
2. Famine: In this new place, you’ll realize your comfort zone is gone, and you’ll learn to depend on God like never before. God’s truth: He is with me.
3. Believing: You’ve always wanted to really believe God, but now your experience of Him becomes too real to deny. God’s truth: He will make a way.
4. Death: Coming to the end of your ability to make things happen seems like death to you. But to God, this is the only way to new life with Him. God’s truth: He isn’t surprised by death.
5. Resurrection: In a way only He could, God makes your dream come true. Only then do you understand that real joy isn’t in the dream itself but rather in the richer faith you acquired along the way. God’s truth: He brings dreams to life.
Keeping God’s truth’s in mind will sustain you as you pass through the five phases of faith. As you’ll soon discover, satan will oppose you as you begin to fulfill your dream. The more we focus on the truth, the freer we are to walk with God through the phases of faith and not get sidetracked