“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Every time a new year comes around, I get excited. I know God has good plans for me and my family…plans to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11)
This year, as I was listening to what the Lord has in store for me, I heard, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1) This was His encouragement and assignment or theme for the year.
When I know I am hearing from the Father’s heart, a supernatural faith rises up in me. I can sense His joy and peace over me, and I know those good things are coming!
Have you ever experienced this type of supernatural faith? Or is having faith sometimes a struggle for you? What if you possessed the gift of faith from God? Not a faith where you simply believe in God, but a faith where you believe what God says is actually TRUE for you!
Faith is Proof That Hope Exists
The Lord gives everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) But there is also the supernatural gift of faith…the faith of God. We can’t talk about God’s design for faith without citing Hebrews 11. In this scripture, faith is described as “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
So faith is a substance. It is the material of things you hope for, but not a hope that says, “Oh, I really wish this would happen.” This is the definition of biblical hope: a confident expectation of good; a happy certainty. When you know that you know that you know something good is coming your way…that’s hope. Faith is the substance that brings those things one hopes for into material reality; faith is the proof these things exist.
Hope is the Key
A friend of mine once told me that she had just stopped hoping to ever receive a child because it was easier that way. She went on for several years having put hope aside. One day, she heard the Lord say to her clearly, “I need you to hope again.” A floodgate of tears were released as she allowed hope to awaken in her heart again. Today, she waits in happy expectation of good. The Lord has changed her circumstances and paved the way for a child to come into her life. But hope was the key to faith being released.
So, where does hope come from? If you search the scriptures, you will find that our hope is in God, and that hope stems from absolute trust. Paul’s prayer in Romans 15:13 assures us that hope comes from trusting wholeheartedly in God and His unfailing love: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In my work as a counselor, I often come across people who have lost some measure of hope. For one reason or another, they no longer trust in God’s plan for them. Sometimes, only a portion of our heart believes God and His promises for us. The unbelieving parts are holding on to unhealed wounds from past experiences or unmet expectations. We think we can trust our experiences more than we trust God, and our faith begins to sink down to the level of our experience. But God has a more perfect plan for us than our past hurts. We must bring our experience up to the level of what God has said is true for, and about, us!
This year, as you take hold of His great and precious promises for you, make the choice to believe what He says is true. His Word goes out and does not return void! (Isaiah 55:11)
Scriptures for Meditation:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” -Hebrews 11:1
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” -Psalm 33:18
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” -Isaiah 55:11
