Hebrews 11:1 (amp) Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Hebrews 11:1-6 (msg) The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 

By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see. By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice. 

By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

As we walk this life, we all need assurance. When I first cracked open the shell of my life to God, the first things He started revealing to me were His promises – His promise to Love me, to take care of me, to never leave me, to be enough, to be more than enough, and eventually to be everything. I wanted so badly to believe the promises were true… that He was true, but every time I sought human assurance I was let down. Why do so many Christians not care about God in their every day? or why do they live the majority of their lives ignoring God? I began to doubt (I realize my error now in seeking human assurance but I didn’t fully understand that then) and my heart ached – I remember crying out to Him, “There has to be more! How do I give you more?” I didn’t even know what I was asking and slowly the word ‘surrender’ formed in my heart and so I asked God, “Ok then, how do I surrender?” This led me to the book ‘Absolute Surrender’ by Andrew Murray. Murray assured me of God’s promises, and he instructs his readers on how to continue turning to God in faith, trusting Him in everything… assuring us of God’s promises… that God is in fact enough – more than enough! Since then I have read many Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, and George MacDonald books… why? because they offer me assurance in God’s promises… and always point me back to Him who is Life, revealing more of God. George MacDonald specifically pointed me back to the New Testament, the Gospels, to read them trying to understand who God is, revealed in Christ Jesus. I had read the Bible before, multiple times, but it seems I needed some preliminary work before I would understand this beautiful revelation. I am now able to see His assurance throughout the entire Bible! – Though I don’t understand everything – I know Him better everyday. I know I still have many more layers as I climb further up and further in, but I want to offer assurance to anyone out there who may be wondering or wading through doubt – God is everything. He is enough. He is faithful. He loves you. And “He cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” And He is, “Everything that makes life worth living.” He will reveal Himself to you so that your faith will grow as you get to know Him and your faith will be your assurance because you know personally the Creator and Lover of your soul.