BELIEFS THAT MATTER:

Faith and Free Will: Making Conscious Choices

In my journey of understanding my faith and what I believe, one of the most profound realizations I’ve come to is the link between faith and belief. Faith is making an intentional and conscious decision to trust, and belief is the result of understanding, personal experience, reflection, and, at times, divine revelation. Both require ongoing and active engagement, and neither can be reduced to a simple, one-time choice. Ultimately, what we believe evolves as we continuously explore, test, and refine the truths we encounter. In this post, I want to explore how faith and free will intersect, and how genuine belief is formed through understanding.

The Nature of Belief

Belief, in my view, is not simply a choice. Our ability to believe comes from a deeper understanding of the truths that resonate with our experiences. When someone says, “I believe this or that,” it’s not as simple as choosing to believe it because they want to. Instead, belief must be rooted in a true understanding of the reality it reflects. Without understanding, the best we can do is accept an idea as a working hypothesis—something we hold tentatively until we have enough experience and insight to truly believe it.

Beliefs are acknowledged, not chosen. When I say that I believe something, I am acknowledging that I have made a conscious and intentional choice to accept a series of understandings. Some of these understandings come from personal experiences, some from insights shared by others, and some from what is perceived to be divine guidance. As these understandings grow and intertwine, they form a foundation that eventually leads to belief. This is where faith comes in.

Faith as a Conscious Decision

Faith is not blind, nor is it something we can force ourselves to have. Instead, faith involves a conscious and intentional decision to trust—whether that’s in the teachings of others, divine guidance, or personal intuition. When I choose to trust in certain teachings, I hold them as a working hypothesis that I accept tentatively, pending further experience, insights, and reflection.

This hypothesis guides my perceptions and actions, but it’s always open to revision or rejection. Faith requires a willingness to question and test what we believe, especially as we encounter new experiences and insights. Faith, then, is an ongoing process that shapes our beliefs as we gain deeper understanding.

The Journey Toward True Belief

True belief is not about blind acceptance, but instead is a journey of continually seeking, questioning, and growing. This allows our beliefs to evolve through a process of testing and refining. The teachings and ideas that align with my experiences and understanding grow stronger, becoming deeply rooted in personal conviction. Those that don’t align, or that reveal inconsistencies, are reevaluated and sometimes discarded. Through this process of exploration, true belief emerges.

The Role of Free Will in Belief

Free will is a God-given ability—the capacity to make independent choices based on our understanding, values, and desires. It allows us to explore different ideas, weigh possibilities, and make decisions that reflect our beliefs. Free will plays an essential role in the process of belief because, at its core, belief is shaped by what we understand. While our experiences, revelations, and teachings may influence us, it’s through free will that we engage actively with these truths and decide whether or not to accept or reject them.

This process is what transforms understanding into genuine belief. It’s not a forced or automatic response, but rather a choice made freely and with intention, one that aligns with what resonates as true in our lives.

The Influence of Divine Intervention on Free Will

Although we are free to make choices, there are times when God intervenes, not to override our free will, but to guide us toward deeper understanding. In moments of divine intervention, God may choose to reveal something that shapes our belief more profoundly than personal exploration alone ever could.

A powerful example of divine intervention can be found in the biblical story of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:6-16, Acts 26:12-18). Paul, who was originally known as Saul, was a fierce persecutor of early Christians often killing them. While on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus, he was suddenly struck by a bright light and fell to the ground. He heard the voice of Christ asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Blinded by the encounter, Paul was led into the city, where he remained without sight for three days. God then sent a disciple named Ananias to lay hands on Paul, restoring his sight and baptizing him. This divine encounter radically changed Paul’s life, transforming him into one of the most passionate and influential followers of Christ. If you want to read this account yourself, I would encourage you to read it using either the New King James Version (NKJV) or the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible where you can gain a deeper understanding of how this dramatic intervention shaped Paul's beliefs and mission.

In moments like these, divine grace and free will intersect. These experiences do not force belief, because we are still free to choose how to respond as we engage with what God reveals. Instead, God’s divine intervention helps provide us with experiences that facilitate our ability to gain the understanding that allows true belief to take root. 

Free Will and Divine Purpose

Free will and divine purpose work together, shaping our spiritual journeys. While we have the freedom to explore, question, and decide what we believe, God’s guidance often helps us make sense of our experiences and brings clarity when we seek answers. This doesn’t negate free will; rather, it amplifies it by providing us with the understanding we need to make informed choices.

God’s interventions serve as moments of grace where we encounter truth in a more direct way, allowing us to grow in our faith. These moments are not about God controlling our choices, but more about God giving us the understanding that helps us choose more wisely.

Conclusion

As I close out this post, I am reminded that the process of believing is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Faith is a journey that requires openness to growth, reflection, and divine guidance. While belief cannot simply be chosen, free will allows us to engage with the truths we encounter, deciding how we respond to them. Understanding plays a vital role in this process—belief deepens as we come to understand more fully, through experience and reflection, and as God, in moments of grace, offers the clarity we need to choose wisely. In those moments, faith and free will come together, shaping the path forward. I hope that you, too, find clarity and strength in your own journey as you engage with the truths that resonate with your heart and mind.

OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING POSTS: