Hebrews 11:1-3 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3 provides a powerful definition of faith and how it relates to hope. Faith is described as the assurance, the confidence, the substance of the things we hope for, even though we cannot see them yet. It is by faith that the heroes of the Bible received God's approval and commendation. The passage also states that by faith we understand that God created the universe by His word. The visible world we see was made from things that are invisible - spoken into existence by God's power. This highlights that faith is not just wishful thinking or blind optimism, but a conviction grounded in the unseen realities of God. Even when our hopes seem distant or impossible from our limited perspective, faith anchors us in the promises and power of God. We can trust that just as God spoke creation into existence from nothing, He is able to bring about the things we hope for in seemingly hopeless situations. The examples of faith in the rest of Hebrews 11 encourage us to place our hope fully in God, even when we don't see the outcome yet, knowing He is faithful to His word. Biblical hope is not an uncertain wish, but a confident expectation in God that what He has promised, He will bring to pass. Faith is the bridge between our present reality and the unseen future we hope for in Christ. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and the eternal realities of His kingdom, we can live by faith and abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1-3 challenges us to examine the foundation of our hope. Are we placing our hope in the temporary things of this world that we can see, or are we anchoring our hope in the eternal promises of God that we cannot yet see? In a world filled with uncertainty, disappointment, and brokenness, it can be easy to lose sight of hope. We may feel like our prayers are going unanswered, our dreams are slipping away, or our situations are beyond repair. But Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is the assurance that God is still working even when we can't see it. Just as God spoke the universe into existence out of nothing, He is able to bring life, healing, and redemption into the darkest of circumstances. Faith enables us to keep hoping in God's goodness and power, even when our present reality seems to contradict it. The examples of faith in Hebrews 11 show us that hope in God is never wasted or put to shame. Abraham hoped against hope in God's promise of a son and became the father of many nations. Moses chose to hope in God's reward above the fleeting pleasures of sin. Others faced persecution, hardship, and even death with unwavering hope in a better resurrection. Their faith was not based on what they could see in the moment, but on the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. As followers of Jesus, we have an even greater reason for hope. Christ's death and resurrection secured for us an eternal hope that does not disappoint. No matter what trials, losses, or disappointments we face in this life, we have the hope of eternal life with God where every tear will be wiped away. When doubts and fears arise, we can look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. As we abide in Christ and feed our faith with the promises of His word, we will find fresh strength to keep hoping and persevering. May we be a people who live by faith and overflow with hope in a world desperate for it. Let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, trusting that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of faith that enables us to hope in You. When our circumstances seem hopeless and our hearts feel weary, help us to remember that You are the God of the impossible. Nothing is too hard for You. Just as You spoke the universe into existence, we trust that You are able to bring about the things we hope for in Your perfect timing and ways. Forgive us for the times we have placed our hope in the fleeting things of this world instead of in Your eternal promises. Strengthen our faith to keep holding fast to the assurance of what we hope for, even when we can't see it yet. Help us to live by faith and not by sight. May the hope we have in Christ anchor our souls and empower us to persevere through every trial and storm. Use us to bring Your hope to the hopeless and to point others to the unshakeable hope found in Jesus. We long for the day when our faith will be sight and every hope will be fulfilled in Your presence. Until then, we cling to You, our living hope. In Jesus' name, Amen.