Faith Isn't Believing God Can—It's Knowing He Will: Unleashing the Power of Confident Faith

Have you ever found yourself praying with a hesitant "if it's Your will" when deep down you know God has promised something specific? Many Christians live in the tension between believing God can do something and truly knowing He will. This distinction isn't just semantic—it's the difference between hopeful wishing and confident expectation. What if your faith could shift from "God, I hope You can" to "God, I know You will"? What miracles might unfold when you move from possibility thinking to promise-based confidence?

The Shift from "Can" to "Will"

Faith isn't believing God can — it's knowing He will.

When challenges seem impossible, that's when faith becomes powerful.

God doesn't need perfect circumstances to perform miracles. He only needs a heart that trusts Him, even when the outcome is uncertain.

So today, speak life over your situation.

Pray with confidence.

And remember — the mountain in front of you isn't bigger than the God who lives within you.

🌿 "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed... nothing will be impossible for you." — Matthew 17:20

Your powerful distinction between believing God can and knowing He will captures the essence of biblical faith. This isn't about presumption or name-it-claim-it theology—it's about the confident expectation that comes from knowing God's character and promises. Your insight that faith becomes powerful "when challenges seem impossible" reveals that difficult circumstances aren't barriers to miracles but invitations for them.

Understanding Matthew 17:20 in Context

Jesus' statement about mustard seed faith comes after His disciples failed to heal a demon-possessed boy. Let's unpack what He's really teaching:

The Mustard Seed Principle

Mustard seeds were the smallest seeds known in Jesus' time, yet they grew into large plants. Jesus isn't saying we need great faith—He's saying even microscopic faith in a great God produces massive results.

The "Nothing Will Be Impossible" Promise

This isn't a blank check for whatever we want. The context shows it's about God's will and kingdom purposes. When our faith aligns with God's purposes, nothing He calls us to will be impossible.

The Mountain-Moving Metaphor

Your reminder that "the mountain in front of you isn't bigger than the God who lives within you" echoes Jesus' teaching. In Jewish tradition, "moving mountains" was a metaphor for solving impossible problems.

Biblical Examples of "Knowing He Will" Faith

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Even If He Doesn't" Faith

Facing the fiery furnace, they declared: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve can deliver us from it... But even if he does not... we will not serve your gods" (Daniel 3:17-18). Their faith wasn't conditional on delivery.

The Roman Centurion: Confident Authority

When Jesus offered to come heal his servant, the centurion responded: "Just say the word, and my servant will be healed" (Matthew 8:8). He understood authority and believed Jesus' word alone was sufficient.

The Woman with Bleeding: Determined Expectation

After twelve years of suffering, she thought: "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed" (Matthew 9:21). Her faith wasn't "maybe" but "will."

Abraham: Against All Hope

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed... being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4:18-21). His faith wasn't based on circumstances but on God's character.

The Anatomy of Confident Faith

Faith Rooted in Relationship, Not Results

Your insight that God needs "a heart that trusts Him even when the outcome is uncertain" reveals that true faith trusts the Person, not just the outcome.

Faith That Speaks Before It Sees

Your encouragement to "speak life over your situation" aligns with Romans 4:17, where God "calls into being things that were not." Faith often speaks what it believes before it sees evidence.

Faith That Prays With Authority

Your direction to "pray with confidence" reflects James 1:6-7: "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."

Why We Struggle With "Knowing He Will" Faith

The Fear of Disappointment

We protect ourselves from potential disappointment by lowering our expectations. But faith requires vulnerability.

Misunderstanding God's Will

We confuse trusting God's character with knowing every detail of His specific plan.

Past "Unanswered" Prayers

Previous experiences where God didn't act as we expected can make us hesitant to trust fully.

Cultural Conditioning

We live in a skeptical age that values evidence over faith, making confident trust feel naive.

Practical Steps to Develop Confident Faith

1. Create a "Promise Journal"

Build your faith on God's specific promises:

Identify Scripture promises relevant to your situation
Write them out in your own words
Note biblical examples of these promises being fulfilled
Review them daily, speaking them aloud

2. Practice "Faith Declarations"

Your advice to "speak life" can be implemented through daily declarations:

"I believe God is working even when I can't see it."
"My God will supply all my needs according to His riches"
"No weapon formed against me will prosper"
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

3. Develop "Testimony Awareness"

Remembering God's past faithfulness builds confidence for future trust:

Keep a record of answered prayers
Share testimonies with other believers
Recall specific times God came through for you
Use past victories as fuel for present faith

4. Implement the "As If" Principle

Live as if God has already answered:

Thank God for the answer before you see it
Make decisions based on believed outcomes
Prepare space for what you're believing for
Act in alignment with your prayers

The Relationship Between Faith and God's Will

It's crucial to understand how confident faith interacts with God's sovereignty:

Faith Within God's Revealed Will

We can have absolute confidence when praying according to God's clearly revealed will in Scripture (healing, provision, wisdom, etc.).

Faith in God's Unrevealed Will

In areas where God hasn't given specific promises, we pray "if it be Your will" while trusting His goodness regardless.

The Balance of Trust and Surrender

True faith says: "I believe You will do what's best, and I trust Your wisdom, whether that matches my preferences or not."

Your 21-Day Faith Acceleration Challenge

Based on Matthew 17:20, commit to this progressive journey toward confident faith:

Week 1: Foundation (Days 1-7)
- Day 1: Identify one area where you need mountain-moving faith
- Day 2: Memorize Matthew 17:20 and meditate on its meaning
- Day 3: Start your promise journal with 5 relevant Scriptures
- Day 4: Write a faith declaration for your situation
- Day 5: Recall 3 past times God proved faithful
- Day 6: Practice thanking God for the answer before seeing it
- Day 7: Rest in God's faithfulness, not striving

Week 2: Building (Days 8-14)
- Day 8-10: Speak your faith declaration aloud each morning
- Day 11-12: Take one practical step of preparation for your answer
- Day 13-14: Share your faith journey with an encouraging friend

Week 3: Accelerating (Days 15-21)
- Day 15-17: Notice any increase in peace or confidence
- Day 18-19: Look for small signs of movement in your situation
- Day 20-21: Plan how to maintain confident faith long-term

When Faith Feels Like Foolishness

There will be moments when confident faith feels ridiculous. In those times:

Remember Noah

Building an ark miles from water looked foolish until it started raining.

Remember David

Facing a giant with a sling seemed absurd until the stone found its mark.

Remember the Israelites

Marching around Jericho for seven days appeared pointless until the walls fell.

Remember Jesus' Disciples

Fishing all night and catching nothing made Peter hesitate when Jesus said Cast again—but the nets nearly broke.

The Power of Spoken Faith

Your emphasis on speaking life aligns with biblical principles:

Life and Death in the Tongue

Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death." Our words create spiritual atmospheres.

Calling Things That Are Not

As mentioned earlier, God Himself speaks things into existence. We're made in His image.

Testimony Through Declaration

Revelation 12:11 shows we overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony." Speaking God's truth activates spiritual victory.

A Prayer for Confident Faith

Let's pray together: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've limited You by believing You can but doubting You will. Strengthen my faith to move from hopeful wishing to confident expectation. Help me to trust Your character even when circumstances seem impossible. Give me the courage to speak life over my situations and pray with authority based on Your promises. Remind me that the mountain before me is no match for the God within me. Thank You that even mustard seed faith in You can move mountains. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Your Next Steps in Confident Faith

Start Small: Choose one area where you'll shift from "God can" to "God will" thinking today.

Speak Faith: Implement daily faith declarations, even if you don't feel them initially.

Study Promises: Immerse yourself in Scripture passages about God's faithfulness and power.

Surround Yourself: Connect with faith-filled believers who will encourage rather than discourage your confidence.

Remember: The same God who enabled mustard seed faith to move mountains in biblical times is the God who lives in you today. Your circumstances don't determine His ability—your faith simply activates your access to it. Don't just believe He can—know He will.

Faith That Moves Mountains