Hebrews 11 gives us the classic ‘definition’ of faith:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we think of faith, we often think about waiting for something. Maybe it’s provision, a conversion or some other event that is down life’s road…something we haven’t seen yet, but fully expect to see. Faith, we think, typically has a payoff that we will experience.

But what about when faith means never knowing? What then? How do we hold on in faith when it will only ever be faith? Can we be content to know that God is working, but we aren’t going to be direct recipients of that work?

That’s what the prophets of the Old Testament had to walk through in regards to God redeeming His people. That’s what they had to accept when He wrote words about the coming Messiah on their hearts. Abraham would never see Jesus, but he persevered. Moses dealt with unruly people, longed for their redemption, but instead was used to show them a shadow of what would come someday.

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:39‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And so it may well be for us. God works in these areas of faith, but He never promises that we will see what He is leading us toward. There may yet be a great movement, but its end may not be for us to experience. And we have to be okay with that. Faith doesn’t equate to our own gratification, but the glorification of God. That is what faith ultimately points toward. Faith has always been meant to point toward God and to bring Him glory. What parts we experience are just that, and we must be content to be used however He sees fit. We do so in faith, and He is faithful to see it all through. Trust in Him & be faithful in return.