Stuck In Traffic On A Dotted Yellow Line

Photograph by Jonathan Lesher

_{Jonathan Lesher is an incredible photographer who offers a unique perspective! Beside being a talented photographer, Jonathan is also a BMW enthusiast who loves running, coffee, and cooking breakfast. Would you like to view more photos by Jonathan? Click on the link below.}

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 ESV

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.” Hebrews 11:1 TPT

As photographer, Jonathan Lesher, reflected on this photo, he said, “Like a bird in a cage. Hope is a prison and faith sets us free.” This made me stop and reflect on the relationship between hope and faith and immediately Hebrews 11:1 came to mind. Our faith is the ASSURANCE of things HOPED for. In the Passion Translation it says that FAITH brings our HOPES into reality, that faith is the foundation needed for us to receive the things that we long for.

As I looked at Jonathan’s photograph again, I noticed that the road ahead seemed to stretch out as far as the eye can see without any destination point. And then it occurred to me that in seasons of waiting on the Lord, the things we are hoping for can seem so far away, but it is hope partnered with faith that gives us a different vantage point.

I love pictures and metaphors, often when I ask the Holy Spirit for help in understanding the Word of God, He’ll use a picture or analogy to help bring the truth home for me. As I asked God about hope and faith in the waiting, a thought came to mind. HOPE is like a cage that HOUSES our God-given promises and longings. Hope being the expectation of a desire or promise being fulfilled in the FUTURE. Hope alone can seem like that long road pictured above, and that is where FAITH comes in! If our God-given promises and longings are housed in HOPE, the expectation that those things will be fulfilled in the FUTURE, then according to Hebrews 11:1, it is FAITH that is the assurance that although we haven’t yet seen the fulfillment of our hopes, they will come to pass! Am I saying that any old thing that we hope for or expect will happen just the way we want? NOPE! We’re human and some of the desires and longings we have are born out of our flesh and are not necessarily God-given. But if God has written a desire on our hearts or authored a promise, we can be assured that He has planned it, is actively working on it, and will bring it to completion.

So I leave you with a few questions for you and God to chat about:

1. Does HOPE need FAITH in the waiting to keep our hearts from growing sick?
2. What happens when we have HOPE but not FAITH?
3. If you are currently waiting on the Lord to move in a certain area of your life, what’s the relationship status between HOPE and FAITH for you right now?