Personal Growth

Hebrews 11:13a states: ""These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them..." It would seem that the key to their faith was that they were persuaded that Gods' promises were true. They "embraced" them and greeted them, even though they could see them only by faith and not by sight. Only a real faith can see the invisible. Faith's walk does not depend on answered or unanswered prayers on this earth. A believer looks beyond earthly surroundings to heaven when all of their prayers will be answered.

Hebrews 11 goes on to tell about many believers who have overcome tremendous obstacles by their faith. "By faith they (Israelites) passed through the Red Sea..." "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down..." "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish..." (Verses 29, 30, 31) Many more champions of faith are mentioned who "through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." (Verses 33-34)

After reading the first half of Hebrews 11 we might begin to believe that miracles occur for everyone who has faith and problems disappear for all that trust God. Certainly many are mentioned here who overcame tremendous obstacles by their faith. But then we continue reading and come to a description of other champions of faith who had a different experience. "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented." (Verses 35b-37 This "faith chapter" ends with "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Hebrews 11:39-40)

It would appear that faith does not provide an automatic exemption from hardships and tragedy. And people who suffer trials and illnesses do not have less faith than those who don't. Faith is believing God and whether mountains are moved by our faith or whether with that same faith we must bear personal tragedy, we will still receive Gods' promises even if we have to wait for them. So some of our champions of faith received marvelous miracles because of their faith, and others did not receive what God had for them during their lifetime. It was all with