We all probably have heard statements like the following from others or perhaps in our own thoughts: “If God would just show up so that I could see him, then I would believe that he exists.” Or…”If Jesus would just speak to me audibly, then I’d know he’s real.” Or…”If God would just give me this __, then I could be fully confident that he’s actually loving.” There are many errors contained in those statements, but one of the most significant is that they wrongly assume that seeing leads to believing instead of that believing leads to seeing. In other words, to operate with those conditions, is to operate without faith.
God doesn’t look too lightly upon that since, according to Heb. 11:6-And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. The author of Hebrews had already described faith at the beginning of the chapter—11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Believing God is about taking him at his word plain and simple, while not placing prideful stipulations on God that he must meet before we will trust him. It’s interesting that in the wake of Christ’s resurrection, we will see a variety of responses, but we will not see faith as just described in Hebrews. It’s no surprise that in the place of faith we will see despair and fear. Such is always the case in anyone who is walking by something other than faith in God’s word.