A journey of understanding · By Gary Eagle · 3 minute reflection
What is the difference between belief and knowing, and between faith and trust? Join Gary Eagle for a quiet reflection on four words that shape our understanding, our relationships and our connection with God.
Watch with English captions, or read at your own pace below. Open on YouTube ↗
Read the full teaching
The words from the video, arranged for comfortable reading.
01 · 0:12
Four words, one journey
We often use words like belief, knowing, faith, and trust as if they mean the same thing. But each one is different. Each holds its own special place in our lives, our understanding, and our connection with God.
02 · 0:31
Belief vs knowing
Belief Opens the Door
Belief starts when we face the unknown. It is the seed we plant when we hope, imagine, or accept what we cannot see. Belief lets us wonder. It helps us search for answers that logic cannot yet prove.
Knowing Bears Fruit
But knowing is the fruit of that search. It is what happens when a belief is tested, questioned, and proven true. Knowing isn’t just a guess or a hope—it is real, built on actual experience and truth.
Rooted in Understanding
Belief invites us to look for answers, while knowing gives us a firm place to stand. We need both. Belief inspires us to seek, and knowing gives us a strong foundation to grow.
03 · 1:25
Faith vs trust
Faith Takes the First Step
Faith is a leap into the dark. It is our choice to trust what we cannot prove. Think of faith as a bridge over doubt, powered by hope. It asks us to take a step forward, even when we cannot see the path.
Trust Grows Over Time
Trust, on the other hand, is built over time. It grows through experience, honesty, and consistency. Trust doesn’t leap—it walks. It is steady and sure, because it has already proven that the ground will hold us.
The Courage to Keep Going
Faith gives us the courage to believe in what could be. Trust gives us the confidence to act on what is. Faith helps us start the journey, and trust helps us keep going.
04 · 2:21
Partners on the journey
Belief and trust working together
Belief and knowing, faith and trust. They are not opposites; they are partners. Belief opens the door to new ideas, and knowing shows us the truth. Faith reaches out for the unknown, and trust holds tight to what is proven.
Grow. Connect. Live Fully.
Together, they guide us through life. They balance what we imagine with what we experience. Through them, we find the courage to grow, to connect, and to live fully.
05 · 2:58
The light that leads us home
May we always keep believing, and always seek to know. May we hold onto faith, and work to build trust. Because in these four words, we find the balance of who we are—and the light that leads us home.
This teaching shares Gary Eagle’s spiritual perspective on these ideas. Their meanings can overlap and vary across traditions and everyday use.
Continue your journey
Explore The Truth in You: Discovering God—watch the full book video or turn the pages and read online.
For another reflection on awareness and reality, visit The Hard Problem of Consciousness.