“Now faith is confidence
in what we hope for
and assurance about
what we do not see.”
This definition of faith lives in several places throughout the Canyon, including on a tile in Black Bluff. It is a preamble to the great cloud of witnesses who lived by faith—Noah, Abraham, and the rest. We might be tempted to see their lives as especially blessed.
It is easy to forget the unexpected truth that arrives in verse 13. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised.”
Faith is confidence in what we hope for—and the acceptance that our highest hopes are not for ourselves, our comfort, our career paths or political aspirations. Faith is not a magical way of thinking that makes our individual dreams come true. It is a way of aligning our hopes with God’s promises for the world, and by faith, we spur each other on to love others and do good deeds. This is how we participate in God’s promises.
Hope and generosity always start somewhere. For Mrs. Butt, it was often the place where her family gathered to share meals.