Do you believe in things you cannot see? Do you find it hard to believe in something if you have no proof? Do you trust in someone you have never met? Do you trust they have your best interest at heart? How does your belief and trust affect your hope?
Believing and trusting in someone we have never met can be challenging. Yet, we do. Think not? Despite our many complaints, we believe our government, which includes lawmakers we have never met, will pass appropriate laws, even if we don’t agree with every law or budget.
We also trust people we do not know to stock the shelves of the local grocery store, cook our meals in a restaurant, and even drive the same highways we drive. Take a moment to think about the many situations in which we trust people we don’t know to do the right thing. If we are willing to trust them, fallible people, why are we unwilling to trust God?
The writer of Hebrews writes about faith. Faith is the combination of belief and trust. Notice that faith assures us of our hope. This hope is a belief in the promises of God. This means we trust God will fulfill his promises. We cannot see God and cannot always see how he is fulfilling his promises. Yet, our faith tells us he is doing so, even if we cannot see it.
We are provided several examples of people whose faith was commended by God. Each of them likely had doubts at some point during their lives, but they returned to their faith. We may experience doubts at times as well. It is natural to have doubts. However, just like the examples we see, we are to return to our faith, believing and trusting that God is in control and working for our good.
I pray we all realize we trust people we do not know. I pray we believe in and trust God. I pray each one of us acknowledge our doubts and return to our faith in God. Believe God is at work. Trust that God is in control. Know you will have doubts. Return to your faith in God.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Marty Pressey 