Stickers That Won’t Stick
A Lesson in Faith from a 4-Year-Old
The other day, I had a FaceTime call with my youngest granddaughter. As soon as I picked up the phone, she excitedly blurted out, "Hey Pop's, I have some stickers that won't stick!" Now, this may sound odd for a four-year-old to say, but in her little mind, it didn't make sense. Stickers are supposed to stick, right? That's the whole point of them! Yet, here she was, puzzled and frustrated because the stickers just wouldn't do their job.
Her words hit the bullseye for a simple analogy of weak Faith.
In a way, Faith is a lot like those stickers. They are meant to stick, make a difference, and stay in place when we need them most. But when it doesn't stick or translate into action, what good is it? It's a bit like having Faith without works; as James 2:26 says, "Faith without works is dead." Without something to hold it in place, without something to show for it, Faith becomes little more than an idea floating around, like a sticker that just won't stick.
Consequently, if the sticker doesn't stick, the iconic message or image it represents is also lost.
The Trouble with Stickers That Won't Stick
My granddaughter's frustration was so genuine, and it reminded me of the frustrations we sometimes feel in our own spiritual lives. How many times have we felt like our Faith isn't sticking? Maybe it's not showing up in the way we live our daily lives.
Perhaps we've been guilty of having Faith in our hearts but not practicing it with our hands.
It's easy to say we believe in something. It's easy to say we trust God. But do our actions reflect that belief? James wasn't just speaking about an abstract concept; he emphasized that our Faith must be visible in our actions. He asks us to consider how we live, how we love, and how we serve others. If Faith doesn't show up in these ways, can we truly say we have living Faith?
Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote,
"Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God."
True faith clings to something greater than words; it manifests in obedience, action, and love. Imagine you had a sticker with an important message, but it wouldn't stick to anything. It would just be a loose piece of paper. Useless! Likewise, when our Faith isn't active, it's like a sticker that won't stick. It's not doing what it was created to do.
The Challenge: What Are You Doing with Your Faith?
So, here's a question: What are you doing with your Faith?
It's easy to claim we have Faith, to say the right words, and to go through the motions. But if our Faith isn't affecting our actions—if it's not transforming how we live—then, like my granddaughter's stickers, it's not doing its job.
James encourages us to "show me your faith by your deeds" (James 2:18). If we truly believe, then our Faith should be reflected in how we treat others, spend our time, and make decisions.
Faith isn't just a feeling or a thought we keep tucked away. It's something that sticks, something that shows up in our daily lives.
Putting Faith into Action
Like stickers are meant to hold an image or message in place, our Faith should stick to the truth and guide us toward good works. When we put our Faith into action, we are like stickers that stay sticky! They do what they're supposed to: stick, hold on, and ultimately make a difference.
So, let's ask ourselves: Are we living out our Faith? Are we allowing our Faith to stick to the places in our lives that need it most, whether in relationships, work, or how we serve others? If our Faith isn't sticking, then what the heck are we doing with it?
It's impossible to have Faith without works. As Charles Spurgeon wisely said,
"Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God, and he that trusts God obeys God."
Faith that's alive is Faith that sticks and shows up in the way we live. Faith makes a difference, one action at a time.
Sticky note to self – Make your Faith sticky again!
Here's how:
Build your Faith from God's Word
Faith needs God's Word as its foundation. Regularly read and apply Scripture. "Faith comes from hearing God's word" (paraphrase Romans 10:17)
Action Step: Start your day with a verse or passage.Live out your Faith through action
It becomes visible and impactful when we act on our Faith—through kindness, service, or love.
Action Step: Look for simple and sustainable ways to live out your Faith daily, whether through a kind word or an act of service.Cultivate consistency and perseverance
Faith loses freshness and can waver when life gets tough. Consistency in prayer, worship, and community keeps our Faith strong.
Action Step: Stay faithful in your daily practices, especially when life is challenging. God's promises remain steady.