Most people misinterpret faith as
belief that something totally unforeseen will miraculously happen to them to improve their lives. Some of them use faith as a disengaging excuse for procrastination by internalizing a mentality such as, "I hope things will work out for me," or "Things will get better for me tomorrow."These viewpoints relegate empowering attributes of hope and faith to nothing more than dumb luck. But faith isn't something external or future-based. Faith is internal and fully grounded in present. It's belief that you have power to control your actions within current circumstances and that what you do or create today ultimately impacts your destiny.
Examples from History
In order to better help you distinguish inherent differences between internal and external-based faith, let's take a look at two real-life examples:
1. America's first commercial jet service began with a Boeing 707 flight in 1958. The next month, according to National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," a passenger on a nearly obsolete propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with another passenger who happened to be a Boeing engineer.
The curious traveler asked engineer about new jet aircraft. The engineer spoke convincingly about rigorous testing Boeing had completed on cutting-edge model. He went on to explain Boeing's extensive experience in designing jet engines. Then passenger asked most critical question: "Have you flown on new 707 jet?"
The engineer's testimony, which had been grounded in external faith, crashed and burned with his reply. "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile," he said.
Although Boeing engineer believed a great deal in his company and in aerodynamic principles of jet flight, until he actually flew on Boeing 707 his faith would lack credibility.
2. In late 19th century, Susan B. Anthony, a delegate to Sons of Temperance Meeting in Albany, NY, was denied right to speak from platform due to her gender. She put her faith into action by organizing a group of like-minded advocates. Together they formed Women's State Temperance Society of New York, an organization dedicated to pursuit of securing a Constitutional Amendment that established a woman's right to vote.
Anthony's campaign to include women in 15th Amendment failed and she was never to cast a vote herself. However, her dream was realized just before her death in 1920 with ratification of 19th Amendment. Unlike Boeing engineer, Susan B. Anthony had courage to act on her faith rather than waiting for happenstance or for someone else to get ball rolling.
