On Faith // Hebrews 11:1

Today’s verse is the Bible’s definition for faith. The first part is confidence in hope. Bear in mind that hope is not basic optimism, but knowing God, knowing that God’s ways are good, and knowing that God’s way wins in the end. We are called to be confident in this hope. I love how Hebrews 6:19 gives us a metaphor for hope that is like a ship’s anchor, but for the soul. This helps us endure the storms of life as the winds blow and waves crash. The second part of the verse points to how faith also gives us assurance about what we do not see. This is specifically pertaining to God’s presence and power. Just because you cannot see it that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I like a Jesus reference from John 3 that describes God like the wind…you might not be able to see the wind, but you can see the effect of the wind. You can see it in real time as leaves rustle and trees sway. And of course you can see the after-effects with tree debris on the ground. This is the essence of faith. You might not be able to see the force of God at work, but you can know God is at work, and God is working for your benefit. So, as you start today, be confident that God is at work for you. And even if you might not be able to see it at the time, there is evidence that God is moving. Be sure of it.