FaithSample

Faith is one of those words we toss around in church like confetti—but what does it really mean? Is it a feeling? A force? A leap in the dark? Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) cuts through the fog and gives us a definition straight from heaven: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Now, that’s not just poetic—it's profound. The word “substance” (Greek: hypostasis) means the very reality or foundation beneath something. In fact, it was used like a title deed in ancient times—proof of ownership. So when you have faith, you’re not just wishing on a star. You’re holding the receipt for what God has promised.

Think about it this way: If hope is the dream house, faith is the title deed that says it’s yours—even if the house isn’t built yet. Faith reaches into God’s eternal purposes and pulls them into your daily reality. And when Paul says faith is “the proof of things not seen,” he’s not calling for blind belief. The Greek word here, elenchos, means conviction based on evidence. Faith is spiritual sight—eyes that see what’s real in heaven, even when earth hasn’t caught up yet.

The apostle Paul reminds that the visible world is temporary, but the unseen things—God’s truth, His promises, His kingdom—are eternal. Faith is like a spiritual telescope, letting us zoom in on what truly matters.

Now, the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 isn't a list of people who got everything they wanted. It's a lineup of men and women who trusted God no matter the cost. Some saw miracles. Others saw prison bars. But all of them saw God—and that was enough.

Faith isn’t about manipulating outcomes; it’s about surrendering to the One who holds the outcome. It’s the courage to say yes to God even when the results are unclear. And that kind of faith? It changes everything.

So today, let’s dust off those spiritual muscles. Let’s dare to believe not just in what God can do, but in who He is. Because the moment we trust Him with the unseen, we begin to walk in the reality of His promises—and that, friends, is when mountains move, waters part, and ordinary people live extraordinary lives.