Faith and Trust

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11.1)

Faith is trusting that God is faithful.
That sentence has taken me years to write, and I’m still learning. I choose the word “trusting” over “knowing” that He is faithful, because to me, trusting speaks of my heart as well as my mind. But “knowing” works too, if you prefer. People use the phrase “blind faith” because they define faith as what it takes to leap into the unknown. But your faith isn’t blind if you know His face. Faith isn’t so much about the risk I believe I have to take, as who I believe God is for me right now. All the acts of faith in Hebrews 11 are less about the events themselves, and more the testimonies of those who trusted in who God was for them. They accomplished great things not because they were sure of what would happen, but because they were sure of Him.

When it says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, it doesn’t mean much until He is the source of your hope. Otherwise, it’s just pursuing what you want and hoping God will make it work. When He is your source of hope, faith is the natural result. He becomes the substantive evidence of what you don’t see, because though you may not physically see Him, His presence is so real that your choices are the confident, hope-filled response to your experiences with Him.

Sit down with pen and paper, or at your computer. Take a breath. Ask Jesus to help you remember all the words of life that He has given to you over the years, directly, and through others. Recall all that you have to be grateful for. Remember what He has done, and who He has been for you your whole life. Write it all down, and you’ll remember even more. Let it fill you with the truth that you are not alone. Allow yourself to experience His presence deeper than you ever have before.

You do know His presence. You know His smile. You know His voice. For whatever situations you are facing, let your heart, your hope, your trust, your faith- rest in who He is for you right now, in His nature and character, in what He has demonstrated to you, in what you have read in His word, and in all the encouragement you have received from Him through others. You may never fully understand some of the circumstances you have journeyed through, but you can know that He has been faithful to completely love you the whole way. Trust in His faithfulness again, and have faith for your next step.