Faith: The Unseen Foundation of Our Lives

Hebrews 11:1–7 gives a clear and powerful explanation of what faith is.

Faith is the firm foundation that makes life worth living. It’s by faith that the world was called into existence. It’s the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Think of it this way: as children, when we needed something, we would ask our parents. Just by voicing our request, we believed we had it—even though we couldn’t yet touch or hold it. We had confidence, not in what we could see, but in the promise that came with our asking.

That’s how faith works.

Even when we can’t see it, we believe. Even when we can’t touch it, we still trust.

It was faith that set our ancestors apart and gave them a good reputation before God. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain—not because of what he offered, but because of what he believed. His offering was accepted, and he was declared righteous because of his faith.

This same faith allowed Enoch to walk so closely with God that he was taken up—he didn’t see death. His life pleased God, and that was only possible through faith. That’s why the passage goes on to say:

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

To come to God, we must first believe that He is, and that He cares enough to respond to us when we seek Him.

By faith, Noah built the ark before a single drop of rain fell. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, yet he acted on what he heard. His obedience created a dividing line between the unbelief of the world and the righteousness of those who believe.

Abraham also responded in faith when God called him to leave his father’s house and journey to an unknown land. He said yes to a future he couldn’t see, trusting in the unseen city whose foundation was built by God Himself.

Faith is believing in a God we cannot see. It is choosing to trust Him, to stand with the believing, and to say yes—even when we don’t know how or when He will fulfill His promises.

That’s why we’re encouraged to build our lives on the Word of God—just like the wise man who built his house on a rock. Storms may come, but that house stands firm. (See Matthew 7:24–27)

Faith is a journey. We walk by faith, not by sight. It’s not in what we see, but in what we’ve heard—even if we haven’t seen it yet. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7)

Jesus taught that faith doesn’t have to be massive. “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it will move.” (Matthew 17:20–21)

It’s not about how strong we are—it’s about what we believe. Even a little faith is powerful when placed in a great God.

Faith is the foundation of our whole existence. It’s not about what we see—it’s about what we’ve heard and believe, even when the outcome isn’t visible. It doesn’t have to be massive to be meaningful. Even a mustard seed-sized faith is enough to move mountains.

So, what step of faith is God asking you to take today, even when you can’t see the full picture?

Let this be a reminder that faith is not our last resort—it is our first response. Trust in the God who sees the end from the beginning and rewards those who diligently seek Him.