On Faith
By Mark Bach

Faith is completely personal. Faith is particular to each individual. There is no universal definition of faith. Faith does not exist automatically - it must be developed. Faith grows over time in each person in pace with growth of the individual.

One is not born with faith. Life begins and includes pursuit of faith. Each person experiences many things - good and bad. Often, the bad times - suffering - are most productive for growth of the individual, including development of faith. When life becomes so hard and so dark, senses become sensitive to the smallest things, the most silent things. Then, the individual can appreciate the Truth of life. As Elijah learned on the mountain, God was in the whisper. When the whisper is heard, the individual trust in the words of the whisper. However, existence of the whisper or the words of the whisper cannot be proven. The individual heard the whisper. The individual acts according to what was heard. When another asks why the individual acts a certain way, the individual responds saying that the words of the whisper require acting this way. Another, more quantitative response may be that the acts are dictated by faith in God. If this makes sense to you, that may be action of your faith.