Faith?

I have found in my twenty-one years and some odd months that people say things. These things are generally as important to the orator of the statements as the word "things" is itself. THINGS don't pack any meaning, and neither do the assertions themselves. The biggest for instance I have found is in our faith. Our faith in anything is fickle, really. We have "faith" in God. We have "faith" that we are eternally secure. We have "faith" that we really could move mountains. I don't think so. I have said a million times that I have faith God will provide a way. I have meant that maybe three times. The thing is, I don't think I'm alone. I am not a pessimistic being or a cynically inclined drone of a person, I just think faith requires more than saying "things." I was standing in church Sunday singing a song about my belief that God can move the mountains. I was moved to tears, because I was emptying every word of that song into a barrel of disbelief. I'm not saying in any way that I have no faith in the existence of God, the power of His love, His Son's death and resurrection, or my salvation. I would never say that at all. I am saying I have doubted things before. I'm human. And I am not using my humanity to excuse my inconsistency, but I think it's clear I need help to stay true to faith. However, I felt overwhelmed as I stood there amongst the hundreds of flock members attending Sunday. I was singing words and putting little thought to their meaning. After all, James tells us that faith without works is dead right? This cannot possibly just mean helping the elderly cross the street and rebuilding houses can it? Though those things are good and can be examples, I think James would also say that part of our works is merely putting feet to our so-called faith: believing what we say. Truly believing the "things" we say. Doing things for Christ is essential and therefore that should most certainly be a challenge for each of us daily; to do missions and love one another. But I think our first task should be to believe what we claim. Simple yet difficult to us generally, and concrete, but carrying complexity as well. Just believe it, and as the saying goes, we can achieve it.