“Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

There’s a stunning claim tucked into this verse: God is not indifferent to whether you trust Him. Your faith actually pleases Him. The God who spoke galaxies into being, who needs nothing from you, delights when you believe He is who He says He is.

This is because faith is the heart’s answer to two questions: Is God real, and is He good? Hebrews says saving, pleasing faith answers both — He exists, and He rewards those who seek Him. Not a distant deity indifferent to your search, but a Father who runs to meet those who come looking.

And this is where the gospel makes faith possible at all. We don’t drum up confidence in God by sheer willpower. We look to Jesus — the one who trusted the Father perfectly on our behalf, who died and rose so that our weak, wavering faith could be credited as righteousness. Faith pleases God not because it’s a work we perform, but because it’s the empty hand that receives everything Christ has already secured.

So faith isn’t a leap into the dark. It’s laying hold of a Person who has proven Himself trustworthy — at the cross, in the resurrection, and in every promise kept.

Prayer:

Father, without faith it is impossible to please You. I pray for today that You would give me and those whom I love a heart alive with faith in Your greatness as the all-satisfying treasure that you are. Let us know that trusting who You are brings joy to Your heart. Grow our confidence that You exist and reward those who seek You. Give us a stronger capacity to trust Your promises and bring heaven’s resources to bear on earth’s needs. Fuel their faith through every high and low. Be the object of their faith, and let their reward be a heart satisfied in all You are for them. For Your glory and their good, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

• The above prayer comes from Tony Souder’s book Pray for Me Prayer Guide: Grandparent Legacy Edition, p. 124.