“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised…” (Hebrews 11:13).
This past week, as I read Hebrews 11, I was struck by the reflection that every action that is commended in this chapter was done in faith. And this means that those who are commended didn’t get to see or grasp what they hoped for when they acted in obedience and trust.
One example that has stuck with me is Rahab (Heb. 11:31). When Rahab welcomed the spies and trusted God with her life, she had no reason and no evidence in that moment to believe that God would come through and protect her. But she took the steps of faith anyway and protected the spies. (Read the story in Joshua 2.)
Oftentimes, I want to have clear evidence before I am willing to take a step of faith. I want to see how reasonable and logical it is before I take action. But those who are commended in Hebrews 11 didn’t wait for evidence. In fact, those whose weaknesses turned into strength, “became powerful in battle” (11:34). It wasn’t before the battle that they became powerful, but they became powerful in the battle as they took those steps out onto the battlefield. God met them as they took action. God moved as they obeyed. God gave power and strength to them when they stepped out in faith.
Faith is taking action because we feel sure about God–even when we don’t see.
What step of faith is God calling you to this week? I pray that, as you take those steps forward in faith, God will take you by surprise with the strength and power that you need.
