Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Pastor John Writes:
Many people view faith as an abstract, elusive force — something we try to grasp but never fully comprehend. Yet, in Hebrews 11:1, we are given a different, more meaningful insight into its nature. Faith is not simply a feeling, a fleeting moment of trust in what cannot be fully understood; rather, it is described as the “assurance” (or in other translations, the ”substance”) of hope. It is something tangible, a foundational reality upon which the unseen is built.
While our eyes may not perceive what lies ahead, faith steadies us, offering assurance that our hope is not in vain. Faith says, “Though I do not see, I trust that the One who promises is faithful.” In this way, faith acts as evidence — not in the traditional sense of physical proof, but in the internal conviction that what is unseen is no less real than what we touch and observe.
This faith, Hebrews reminds us, is not passive. It brings us to action, and it inspires movement even when we do not see the entire road ahead. It pushes us toward a life lived not by sight, but by trust — trust in a God who is unchanging and whose love is steadfast. And the essence of our Christian faith is reliance on the person, work, and promises of Jesus Christ.
Even during times of difficulty, may we remember that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the steadfast confidence in what we cannot yet see. It is the certainty that, though the world may offer fleeting guarantees, the promises of God stand firm. In the assurance that faith provides, we find peace.
In Christ,
The Rev. John G. Rights
