When Faith Means Trusting What We Can’t See
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
This well-known verse comes right before what is often called the “Hall of Faith” in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, the writer recalls the faith of many people from the Old Testament, including Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, and the list goes on.
Faith is a common theme throughout Scripture, and we know, as believers, that we are called to have faith. We are called to put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and for the cleansing of our sin (Romans 3:23-25, Acts 15:9). While that is the foundation of our faith, it also extends to other areas of our lives. Because Jesus knew we would be prone to worry, He told us to have faith that God will provide what we need for tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). We must have faith for healing (James 5:14-15) and for strength and endurance (2 Corinthians 12:9).
But what exactly does it mean to have faith?
God is not a genie, so it’s not as if we can somehow “procure” enough faith and make something happen. After all, like Romans 11:35 ESV says: “‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things…”
And “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). In short, faith is a gift. Faith is not a feeling we can muster. Imagine if it were up to us how much faith we were given. We would become arrogant because we would start to think that if God answered our prayer the way we wanted, we were perhaps more righteous or had more faith than the other person who didn’t receive a “yes” from God.
If it were up to us to have enough faith, then that would make us somehow God. And we are clearly not.
Faith is a gift that comes from hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). By God’s grace, the Holy Spirit is the One Who opens our eyes as we read God’s Word (John 14:26).
In Mark 9:23, Jesus tells a father whose son is possessed by a demon that “all things are possible for one who believes,” to which the father replies in verse 24, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
We need Jesus’s help to have faith: faith that we have been saved by the work of His blood on the cross, for His provision, and for healing.
Sometimes, we need to have faith to pursue something others deem crazy. Maybe God calls us to accept a job with less pay or to move halfway across the country. Yes, we absolutely need to make wise decisions, but if God calls us to do something—no matter how crazy it sounds—do it. However, we must be in continual prayer as we discern what is truly from God, because a word from the Lord will never contradict His Word given to us in the Bible.
What do we do when God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we expect?
Even the people in Scripture were forced to wait or accept a “no” from God.
Abraham and Sarah waited for years to have a child.
David became king years after Samuel had anointed him.
Moses never got to enter the Promised Land.
Paul begged God to remove the thorn from his life, but God didn’t. Instead, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV).
Even though David prayed, wept, and fasted, his and Bathsheba’s first son died.
How do we make sense of that?
Sometimes, we might think that if we receive a “no” from God, then we didn’t have enough faith. But Scripture shows us that there could be lots of reasons for “no”. We aren’t God and can’t see the full picture, so maybe He’s protecting us from something. Maybe He has something better in mind.
I’ve also heard it said that God is far more interested in who we are becoming than the earthly destination we are heading towards. Faith during a waiting season sometimes produces a maturity that a “Yes” never could. I would even go so far as to say what matters isn’t about getting what we want from God but about getting more of God.
Nothing draws me into the presence of Jesus more like a “no” or a “wait”.
What if we aren’t simply called to have faith for something but to have faith when God says “no”? To have faith that His ways are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8) and that perhaps His “no” is a blessing in disguise and the preparation for a different “yes” we can’t see yet?
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV).
Note that it says “if we ask anything according to his will.”
This is not about forcing our will to become God’s will. No, instead, it is an invitation for God’s will to become our own.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
A couple of years ago, there was something I wanted but didn’t have the faith to pray for what I thought could be the end result. Rather, God gave me faith to pray for the next step, which may or may not eventually lead to the end result. Which I did. And you know what? God opened the door for the next step.
Two years later, my prayers are bolder as God has given me the faith to pray for things I never would’ve prayed for back then.
Sometimes, God doesn’t give us faith for everything all at once. He gives us tiny portions of faith, but like any gift, faith is a gift that must be stewarded. After all, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV), “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
That includes the faith that has been given to us.
Faith might mean taking one step at a time, even when we can’t see the path ahead.
Faith might mean trusting God’s “no” is sometimes greater than His “yes.”
Pray with me:
Dear Father God, thank You for the gift of faith. I confess that I often try to muster it up in my own strength or treat You like a genie who exists to grant my wishes. Forgive me for the times I’ve valued the “yes” more than the Giver. I thank You for the Holy Spirit, who opens my eyes to Your Word. Help me to steward the measure of faith You have given me today. When I face a "no" or a "wait," draw me closer into Your presence. Align my heart with Yours, so that Your will becomes my own.
Give me the courage to take the next step You have set before me, even when I cannot see the rest of the path. I trust that Your ways are higher than mine and that You are making me into who You want me to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
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Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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