“But without faith it is impossible to please him:”—Hebrews 11:6a

The phrase by faith appears fourteen times in Hebrews 11—a chapter often described as the “Hall of faith.” This chapter briefly chronicles the testimonies of many Bible characters as they lived and walked by faith: Abraham, Moses, Enoch, Joseph, Noah, Joshua, even Rahab.

Their faith in a God who was (and is) able to do all that He has promised gave them courage to act, to obey, and to step out into the unseen. As a result, they pleased God and found Him to be all that they needed in every circumstance or trial. We love to read this portion of God’s Word because the stories are all by faith.

For the child of God, there is a natural stirring within our hearts when we read of people who believed God and followed Him. We recognize that this is what God intends life to be for His people. He desires that we believe Him and trust Him regardless of what challenges or obstacles we might face; to remember that He is still God and still in control of all things—even the things in our lives.

It pleases our Saviour when we follow Him—leaving our insecurities and fears behind to go, do, and speak as He is leading and directing.

The question we should ask ourselves is: “Am I pleasing God with my faith?” Not, “Do I come to church, read my Bible, or pray,”—though those are good things. But am I coming to church, reading, and praying by faith. Do those exercises bring about a purpose within to seek His will and then do it by faith?

It is my prayer that God will help us to get out of our comfort zones and see what He has for us, and then to embrace His will with a spirit of trust, believing that what He has promised, He is able also to perform. May God help us to live by faith as never before.