“Nine-five.” I shakily said the score before I tossed the ball up to serve. The tennis match was a close one; now my opponent and I were in a ten-point tiebreaker and I had several match points ahead of me. Don’t mess this up, I told myself. Your team is counting on you.

My opponent returned my serve. Careful, don’t hit it out! I proceeded to hit the ball timidly into the net. Ugh! Don’t miss the next one, I berated myself. I carefully served the next ball, but it was such a tentative serve that my opponent smacked a winner. No! 

With each passing point, I became more afraid to lose. My confidence decreased, and I became even more timid. Before I knew it, my opponent had worked her way up to match point, and then, suddenly, she had won.

Why do I even play on this competitive team? I moaned to myself as I angrily threw my racket into my bag. I’m terrible! But the truth is, I’m not that terrible. I just had lost faith in myself, and it had cost me the match.  

Faith. What is it? The author of Hebrews gives us a definition. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (11:1) What is so impactful about this definition? It points out that faith involves being absolutely sure of something that is not physically and tangibly in front of us. That is the whole point of faith – we believe without seeing. And that is what God requires of us – trusting in Him even when we can’t physically see Him or have tangible proof of the outcome. 

There are so many things in life I have complete faith in without being able to see. I flip a switch, and I know the light will come on. I turn the ignition of my car, and I expect it to start. Is my belief in God that sure, that strong and unwavering? 

This faith is crucial to our relationship with God. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and He rewards those who seek Him.” (11:6)  Our belief is pleasing to Him!

“But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (10:38). Our lack of faith brings Him no pleasure.

Am I shrinking back, hesitating, doubting God’s promises? That’s a sure way to lose the “spiritual game.” Or am I confidently stepping out in faith? Sometimes this means moving forward with something I feel He is calling me to do, even if I am unsure or afraid. And sometimes it means just putting one foot in front of the other each and every day, believing that He loves me and will carry me through. When I boldly, confidently trust God and seek Him, I am bringing Him joy. That’s definitely a win!