Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. –Hebrews 11:1, New International Version
For some, faith can be a pretty scary concept. If you’re the type that likes to be sure of things or likes to have all the answers, then the concept of faith is probably going to make you feel very uncomfortable. Faith is more than belief, it’s about trust. For example, you can believe that a footbridge spanning a gorge is sturdy enough; but it’s when you start taking steps to cross the footbridge that you begin to trust.
Now there’s those that can’t see themselves taking one step on that footbridge. They want proof that it’s sturdy. Those skeptics just stand off to the side watching others step onto the footbridge as they mumble under their breath how it can’t possibly take one more person’s weight. The skeptics keep their feet firmly planted on solid ground watching others file past them laughing and stretching their arms toward the handrails of the footbridge with the hopes of their turn coming soon so they can experience the thrill of crossing the bridge and then see what’s on the other side. For those crossing the narrow bridge, it’s not just a task–it’s an adventure.
I’ve begun to realize that my faith journey toward God is really an awesome adventure filled with this wonderful mystery that often leads me to take steps where I have to trust God—there’s just no other option. At first I found myself taking steps cautiously hoping that everything would work out fine. Now, I’m getting to the point where I want to just run. And to be honest, I’m not thinking too much about the outcome. I just trust that God’s got me covered—I’m beginning to know that no matter what, I’ll be just fine—in fact, I’m certain of this.
The amazing thing is that the more I search for God, the greater the mystery and the more I trust God, the greater the adventure. I guess that’s why I love this verse. The faith journey toward God is about “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
© 2004 Ginny Rogers
