8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. 10 He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Reflection
Keeping our faith strong is not an easy thing to do. As we move through life, we encounter countless obstacles that test our trust in God. This struggle is not new. From the earliest days of the Church, believers wrestled with remaining faithful—not because they lacked desire, but because the broader society around them pushed against their commitment to Christ. The culture they lived in often made faithfulness costly and uncomfortable.
The author of Hebrews recognized this challenge and wrote to encourage Christians to hold firmly to their faith. In the letter, the author highlights heroes and heroines of faith—men and women who trusted God despite uncertainty, opposition, and hardship. Abraham stands as one of the clearest examples.
Abraham obeyed God when he was called, even though he did not understand the destination. Scripture tells us, “he went out without knowing where he was going.” He trusted not in the clarity of the path, but in the faithfulness of the One who called him. Going somewhere or doing something without having every detail figured out is deeply challenging. Our natural instinct is to seek assurance before we move forward. Yet faith calls us to trust that God will guide us along the way, even when the way itself is unclear.
However, being called by God does not mean the journey will be easy or comfortable. When Abraham arrived in the land he was promised, he lived there as a stranger, dwelling in tents. He never fully possessed what had been promised in his lifetime. Instead, Abraham looked ahead to something greater—”a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” That future hope sustained him, as he lived in the tension between promise and fulfillment.
This example invites us to examine where our confidence truly rests. Are we clinging to what feels stable and familiar, or are we willing to trust God with an uncertain future? Like Abraham, we may be called to go to unfamiliar places or take on new responsibilities, while not fully knowing where we are going or how we are going to accomplish what lies ahead.
Faith does not remove uncertainty, but it does give us direction. It anchors us in hope and grants peace even when circumstances are unsettled. We walk by faith not because the road ahead is clear, but because God is guiding us. So, as we enter a new year, unsure of what the future holds, may we keep our faith strong, trusting that God will lead us step by step.
by Manny Estevez
For Pondering and Prayer
- Where might God be calling me to go without having all the answers?
- What “tents” am I living in that remind me this world is not my final home?
- How can I place my hope more fully in what God is building rather than what feels secure now?
Prayer: Eternal God, you transcend all time and space. You have always been and will always be. As we enter this new year, bless us in our finite time on this earth. When the path before us is unclear, give us courage to step forward in faith. Lead us to the places you are calling us, trusting that you are preparing the way ahead. Ground our hope in you, knowing that through Christ our ultimate future is already secure. Amen.
