One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Hebrews 11. Known as the “hall of faith” by some, it chronicles the Old Testament saints who lived and operated in faith. It is a moving chapter filled with incentive and encouragement for believers in Christ to do the same. In fact, the point of the chapter is that since these patriarchs of the Old Covenant conveyed an unwavering trust in God’s leadership in their lives, how much more should we, as those who have been blessed with a relationship with Jesus, as those who understand that he is the full revelation of God? Perhaps the most inspiring, yet challenging verse of the chapter is verse 6, which reads: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Which begs a question. What does it look like to do this, practically speaking? What are the characteristics of a life that is filled with faith? It dawned on me recently that one of the main characteristics of such a life is that it trusts an unknown future to a known God. You’ve heard the saying, “one plus God is a majority.” Well, a life of faith trusts that this is the case with situations and events that have not yet taken place, with the parts of our lives on this earth that we do not yet know anything about. It’s an unwavering confidence in the fact that, as Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”

I used to keep that verse hung on my wall next to my bed as a college student. There was so much I didn’t know about what was going to take place in my life. At that time, I felt called into vocational ministry, but didn’t know exactly what it would look like. I didn’t yet know where I would attend seminary. And I wasn’t married yet, so I didn’t know who was going to accompany me on this journey. In fact, I didn’t really know if God would provide me with a soul mate. When I was tempted to worry, I would remember that verse and be moved to trust, to trust that God was going to work out all the details in his timing. The God who called me would also be the God who provided, yet in his time and in his way. My job was to keep seeking him first and surrendering to him. My job was to continue pursuing Christ daily.

Nearly three decades later, I find it imperative to keep reminding myself of the same. The difference now, of course, is that I have years of God’s faithfulness that I can remember. And looking back, it’s quite easy for me to see how God has never failed me, how through both the mountains and the valleys of my life he has always kept his promises and provided. In fact, it’s obvious that he has opened doors for me that only he could have opened, proving to me time and time again that he is trustworthy and in control, proving that his grace has always been sufficient in my life.

Let’s not forget that important word I just mentioned as it pertains to faith, the word “grace.” Paul forges a partnership between the two words in Ephesians 2:8-9 as he tells us that “it is by grace” we “have been saved through faith.” A reminder that we are undergirded by grace as believers, by God’s amazing grace, that we have been forgiven of our sin, past, present, and future, that we are free from sin’s sway and control because the Son has set us free, the Son who loves with an unconditional love that nothing can separate us from. Grace, the reality of grace, leads us to walk by faith. It creates intimacy with God and trust that he is and always will be working on our behalf.

I have learned this to be true in my own life, as I’m sure you have as well. So why dare to perform the impossible? The impossibility of trying to please God without faith? Why ever resort to not trusting our Lord’s provision and care? Faith offers a better way. A way in which we allow the gentle reminders of the Spirit to keep us on God’s path. A way in which we continually fix our eyes on “the author and finisher of our faith,” our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.