Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 is an emotional chapter. Spread before you are the spiritual sagas of generations who placed their unwavering trust in God, who took them on adventures beyond their imaginations. Some never saw the end result of their faith, but a great many did. Do you notice some common denominators among their experiences? No matter how different their particular stories might have been, certain principles held true for them all.

Faith was the way of trials. Noah certainly didn’t ask for the ridicule and doubt of his neighbors. Moses would have preferred an easier way out of Egypt. But God used the rough times to sharpen them for the future and to be an even more powerful testimony to others.

Faith was the way of the most misunderstanding. Abraham’s choice to follow God wherever He led was surely confusing to some. It didn’t make sense from an earthly point of view for Rahab to hide the Israelite spies. From God’s perspective, however, their unquestioning obedience opened the door to His blessing.

Faith was the way of patience. David had to wait many years before God fulfilled His promise of giving him the kingship. And many of the believers of the New Testament were put to death after prolonged periods of persecution. God’s ultimate rewards for them were (and are) worth the wait.

Dear heavenly Father, I realize that the way of faith is often a journey of trials. Use the rough times to prepare me for the future. Give me patience to endure the darkest hours.

Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

The apostle Thomas felt deserted. The One he had followed closely and served for almost three years was gone. A cold cave of stone held Jesus’ battered, torn body, and no one knew what to do next.

Later that Sabbath when Thomas arrived at the disciples’ meeting, their mood had changed completely. “We have seen the Lord!” they cried. But Thomas couldn’t share their enthusiasm. He had not seen the Lord, and he did not want to be set up for yet another disappointment. His focus was gone, his grand vision of the future was shattered, and his faith shaken.

Have you been there? A negative experience left a bad impression, and you are afraid to trust again. One more letdown, and you aren’t sure how you might respond. If you could have a glimpse of God in the dark times, you would have hope.

Jesus met Thomas right where he was in wavering faith. The living Christ stood before him face-to-face and told him to feel His hands and side. Thomas responded with one of the most moving confessions of faith in the Scriptures: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NASB).

Look at Jesus. He is real, and He is there to meet you in the bleakest hour. You will have the same reply when you see Him as He is.

O Lord, sometimes the shadows of the past make me afraid to trust. During these dark times, meet me where I am. Let me see You as You are. Let me touch You with the hand of faith.

You younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5-6

Sometimes great examples of faith come in small, unappealing packages. For Naaman, the leprous captain of the army of Syria, his moment of faith came when he dipped in dirty water far from home.

Naaman was insulted. After all the trouble it took to travel to a foreign country, the prophet he came to see did not greet him as a proper host should. Even worse, Elisha sent him orders by a lowly servant to wash in the Jordan.

Naaman was so outraged by Elisha’s supposed affront that he refused to perform the one act that would save him from his ravaging disease. Finally his servants came to talk him out of his pride. They asked him pointedly: “Had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13 NASB).

When Naaman paused to consider their words, he realized that his refusal to humble himself before God would cost his life. He hurried to obey Elisha’s instructions from the Lord, and his flesh was made whole.

Do you say yes to God in the little things? Are you content to follow His will when you do not receive any of the glory? No matter what the task, God always rewards the humble step of faith.

Father God, make me content to follow Your will, even when I do not receive any glory. No matter how small or great the task, let me step forth in humble faith.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35

Imagine that someone walked up to you today and said, “Here’s one million dollars. Build yourself a dream house.” Chances are, you’re not going o pick a poor lot filled with sand. You’re not going to use the cheapest, knottiest, half-rotted lumber you can find. Of course not. You search for the choicest acreage and the highest-quality building materials you can afford.

But when it comes to constructing a sturdy foundation for their lives, many people settle for inferior supplies—possessions, fame, or financial security. On the surface, these things seem reliable enough, but in the hard blast of a personal crisis they crumble away. A fire can eat up possessions; fame can disappear with one piece of negative press; a failing economy or a layoff can destroy financial security.

That’s why Jesus wanted you to see beyond the temporal to the eternal. He said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock… The winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall” (Matthew 7:24-25 NASB).

You need the shake-proof foundation of Christ to make it through the storms of life (Romans 8:35). Only on His sure footing can you find security that survives every trouble. Build your life on the foundation of faith—Jesus Christ.

Dear God, I do not want to build with inferior supplies—possessions, fame, or financial security—because these things crumble. Empower me to build my life upon the foundations of Your Word and Your Son, Jesus Christ.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7

It is an old saying that people are “creatures of habit.” Of course, we love occasional variation in the routine, but we strive for stability as much as possible. 

If you ever feel stressed when dealing with the unknown, then you have a small idea of how Noah felt when God told him to build an ark. An ark? He probably didn’t have a clear idea of what it even looked like until God’s blueprint began to take shape.

In a single encounter, Noah’s concept of daily life took a violent twist. Though he was surrounded by a self-serving, sensual society with no interest in God, he knew where he and his family stood. But suddenly his vision of the future changed forever. No more neighbors, no towns, no noise of crowds, no marketplace—what would the world be like?

Hebrews 11:7 (NASB) notes that in spite of the questions: “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household….and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Faith was all he could cling to; God was literally his only port in the storm. When your circumstances turn upside down, when you don’t have the answers, trust the Lord. His plan is perfect.

Almighty God, You are my port in every storm of life. When my circumstances are confusing, when I don’t have all the answers, help me trust You. Your plan is always perfect.

The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

Though Joseph was sold into slavery, he refused to become embittered. As a result, God blessed him through Potiphar, an Egyptian officer who purchased him. He was taken into Potiphar’s home and given great responsibility. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a successful man (Genesis 39:2). All that Potiphar had was left in Joseph’s care.

However, what happened next in Joseph’s life was certainly a test of his character and obedience to God. It is fairly common for God to test our level of obedience. One day as Joseph was going about his duties, Potiphar’s wife approached him with an alluring temptation. She wanted Joseph to commit adultery with her, but Joseph immediately recognized the error and refused her advances.

Joseph said, “How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9 NASB). His first thought was what such a sin would do to his relationship with God. Obedience was far more important to Joseph than a moment of physical pleasure.

Potiphar’s wife was furious and turned on him by lying to her husband. Potiphar had Joseph imprisoned. However, God was with him, orchestrating the circumstances of his life for even greater blessing.

If you are facing a situation that calls for obedience, ask yourself, Am I about to do something that will lead to my ruin or damage my faith? Faithful obedience always leads to blessing.

Precious Lord, thank You for the faith already instilled in my heart. Help me continue growing stronger each day in my spiritual journey of faith.

The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. Genesis 39:23

People who have spent time in prison talk about the mind-numbing effects of incarceration. Days slide into days, months into months, and an inmate’s perception of time and reality may become stunted. It is easy to lose motivation or the will to live without hope, a goal, something to work toward.

Such was not the case with Joseph. If ever anyone had a reason to be bitter, it was Joseph. He did not even deserve to be in jail. Joseph could have allowed his frustration to deepen into resentment and then taken it out on his fellow prisoners and the guards. He could have made life miserable. Instead, Joseph chose to trust God:

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. And the chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper. (Genesis 39:21-23 NASB)

Joseph understood that God’s plans for him extended beyond the negatives of the here and now; in faith he could look past the present pain, and as a result, God turned his circumstances into a beautiful testimony of His love and provision.

I trust You, Master! By faith, I look beyond the past and present into the tremendous future You have planned for me. Turn my negative circumstances into a testimony of Your love and provision.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

Most of us know the story of Joseph and the depth of his faith. Genesis 39-50 records the events of his life and how God provided emotional strength for him to rise above discouragement. The principle involved in Joseph’s life is one of extreme faith.

He didn’t enjoy being sold into bondage. Like any of us, he probably fought feelings of rejection, loneliness, and fear. He had worshiped and trusted God. Yet he ended up in a foreign land with no immediate hope of returning home to his family. Even there, Joseph held fast to his conviction—God had a plan for his life. He had been given a vision, and he refused to fall prey to sin and discontentment.

Each of us will face times of trial and discouragement. But it is here among life’s darker moments that God exposes the depth of our faith.

For the psalmist to write about his victorious journey through the valley of the shadow of death, there had to be a valley experience. For Joseph to testify to God’s faithfulness, there had to be an Egyptian encounter. For you to affirm the eternal love and strength of God, there must be a test of faith in your life as well. Remember, God will never abandon you. Just as He was with Joseph, He is with you—forever!

Precious Lord, despite the feelings of rejection, loneliness, and fear that sometimes flood my soul, I know You have a plan for me. Through all my trials, expose and then strengthen the depth of my faith.

Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:5

Jesus was speaking to a group gathered along the shores of Galilee. When He finished, He turned to Peter and told him to raise the boat’s sails, head back out into the open water, and lower his nets for a large catch of fish.

Tired and wishing only for a few hours of rest, Peter seemed to hesitate. Did Jesus know what He was requesting? Everyone there knew the best time for fishing—especially with nets—was at night; the worst time was during the day.

Peter tried to reason: “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing.” But Jesus remained firm: “Let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4-5 NASB).

Every time we are called to obey God, our faith is challenged and our true nature revealed. The miracle of the tremendous quantity of fish was the result of Peter’s willingness to trust and obey Christ by faith. In obedience he replied, “At Your bidding I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5 NASB).

When our hearts are set on obedience, God responds mightily. There will be moments in life when you may ask, “Lord, is this a matter of obedience?” If so, choose to obey in faith, then “let down your nets” and prepare for a tremendous blessing.

Lord, I set my heart this day to obey Your Word. As I move forward in obedience, I am “letting down my nets” spiritually and preparing for a tremendous blessing. I know it is coming, so thank You in advance!

We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

When God gives you a promise for the future, He is responsible for opening the right door at the right time for you to accomplish the task. Author and teacher Henrietta Mears had a motto: “Dream big whenever God is involved.” In life, she did just that and turned an unheard-of Sunday school department at First Presbysterian in Hollywood, California, into a program that drew thousands into a deeper walk of faith in Christ.

However, in 1937 she faced an interesting problem. her ever-increasing youth program had outgrown its retreat facilities. God made it clear—He would provide a new retreat area that would meet the need.

Property, once an elaborate resort, in the San Bernandino Mountains became available. But the price, even though greatly reduced, was still too high. Henrietta resolved, “If this was God’s meeting place, He would provide the means to purchase it.”

The owner’s poor health along with a damaging storm opened the way for the purchase of the property at an “unheard-of” low price. Henrietta concluded that the way of faith is never by sight or human reason; it is always by the sovereignty of God.

Is there a need in your life that seems overwhelming? Trust God; He has His best in store for you.

O God, give me the ability to dream big. Remove all that limits my vision. Let me see beyond natural circumstances that restrict my faith.