“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Introduction
Faith is not a personality trait reserved for a few believers. It is the lifeblood of the Christian walk. Scripture commands us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet many sincere Christians ask an honest question: How can I increase my faith? The Bible does not leave us guessing. God has clearly revealed how faith grows, strengthens, and matures in the life of the believer.
Understand What Faith Truly Is
Before faith can grow, it must be properly understood.
The Bible defines faith clearly:
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” — Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Faith is not blind optimism or positive thinking. Biblical faith is confidence in God’s character and trust in His Word. It rests not on feelings, circumstances, or outcomes, but on who God is and what He has promised. A weak view of faith will always produce weak faith.
Feed Your Faith With the Word of God
Faith grows where the Word of God is honored and heard.
Romans 10:17 gives the divine formula:
“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (NLT)
If you want stronger faith, you must have stronger exposure to Scripture. Faith cannot grow on spiritual neglect. Regular reading, studying, and hearing God’s Word builds faith the same way food strengthens the body. A Bible that stays closed will always result in faith that stays small.
Strengthen Faith Through Obedience
Faith grows through action.
James writes:
“Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” — James 2:17 (NLT)
Obedience stretches faith. Each step of obedience trains the believer to trust God more fully. When you obey God even when it costs you comfort, clarity, or control, your faith deepens. Faith that is never exercised will never mature.
Develop Faith Through Prayer and Dependence on God
Faith increases when we learn to depend on God rather than ourselves.
The disciples once prayed a simple but powerful prayer:
“Lord, increase our faith!” — Luke 17:5 (NLT)
Prayer aligns the heart with God’s will and reminds us of our dependence on Him. Faith weakens when self-reliance grows. Faith strengthens when prayer becomes a daily practice, not a last resort.
Allow Trials to Refine Your Faith
God often grows faith through testing.
Peter explains:
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.” — 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
Trials do not destroy faith; they refine it. When believers endure hardship while trusting God, faith moves from theory to reality. Many of the strongest believers are not those who avoided suffering, but those who trusted God through it.
Surround Yourself With Faith-Filled Believers
Faith grows in godly community.
Scripture instructs us:
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” — Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)
Isolation weakens faith. Fellowship strengthens it. Hearing testimonies, receiving encouragement, and worshiping with other believers reinforces trust in God. Faith is contagious when believers walk together.
Conclusion
Faith is not increased by striving harder, but by trusting deeper. It grows as believers hear God’s Word, obey His commands, pray with dependence, endure trials with hope, and walk in fellowship with others. God is not looking for perfect faith—He is looking for obedient faith.
Jesus said,
“You don’t have enough faith… I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it would move.” — Matthew 17:20 (NLT)
The issue is not the size of your faith, but the direction of it. Place your faith fully in Christ, and God Himself will cause it to grow.