By Darlene Vice

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).

How many times have we read that verse? Quoted it? Most people would even say it’s one of their favorite scriptures, but is it so familiar that we have forgotten how powerful it is? Have we forgotten how to apply it to our lives? I believe our human minds are incapable of grasping the depth of the power of those words.

I quoted it from King James because sometimes you must go back as far as you can and trace the roots to gain a better understanding. I usually start with definitions, so, let’s take a look at the key words.

Faith. We think we can define it, but faith has so many levels, and so many aspects, that we have to break it down to this verse. If you trace the root words it means to convince, to persuade, and the concordance goes on to include words like confidence, assure, trust, and obey. It’s interesting that “obey” is included. There are many that want to live life their own way but then quote this when things go wrong. We don’t often talk about obedience and faith going hand in hand, but obedience to the Word of God coupled with faith opens avenues and knocks down walls.

Substance. This word refers to a support such as what you would set under something to hold it up. Think of a floor joist and how much pressure it endures yet holds the floor intact.

Hoped for. This phrase means “to expect”. The word “hope” is like faith and has so many levels and aspects, and again we need to examine the usage in this verse. The Bible describes “the hope of God” and “the God of hope.” Hope must be important to God because it’s one of the most beautiful characteristics of our Father. God created expectation out of His own personality and called it hope. Deep, right?

A few years ago, I was sitting in a worship service, and the leader began to speak about this scripture. What she said absolutely blew my mind and had an impact on my life that I have never forgotten. She said that sometimes we think we are losing faith, but in reality, it’s not faith that is growing weaker, it’s our hope. If faith is the substance (or support) of things hoped for, and we lose hope, then faith has nothing built on it. In other words, it leaves faith all by itself. It’s like the floor joist with no floor to support. Faith and hope both must be present and operate together for this promise to have the full effect. I’ve shared this many times because it had such an impact on my life.

There are times when hope is a conscious choice. When you only see chaos, choose hope. When you don’t see anything happening, choose hope. When despair overwhelms you, choose hope. When you feel like giving up, choose hope.

I shared a word that God spoke to me with Tami a few years ago and she has quoted it many times in her books and during the Facebook prayer on Tuesday nights. The word was that God knew that what I saw happening in front of me and what He said didn’t match, and that I was at a crossroads and had to decide which one I was going to trust. God reminded me to always put my trust in what He said, not in what I see, and wait until what I see lines up with what He said. That was in October 2017, and I found another entry in my notes from a couple of years ago where God reminded me yet again that the chaos in front of me was a lie, and to put my trust in what He said.

Many of you can relate. You’re in the same place where I was then. Let me remind you that what God said will always be what comes to pass, so stand on the promises that God made to you concerning your prodigal, remember that the chaos is a lie, and that God loves them more than you do. Tighten your grip on the promises, shift your focus from the chaos to God, and choose to hope again.