By Anne Ferrell TataFaith is paramount to the Christian life. The Bible offers a clear definition. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) Pressing into this verse, we see what faith is not. It is not wishful thinking. It is not hoping things will simply work out. It is not a risk or a wager. Instead, it is confidence. It is conviction. It is believing and standing on the promises of God. It is assurance about things we cannot see. Now more than ever, faith will help us navigate these troubling times. As believers, we have the awesome opportunity to be the "light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." People are afraid. Some are losing hope. It is time to stand firm and have faith in what The Bible says. The 11th Chapter of the Book of Hebrews lists some of the great heroes of faith from the Old Testament. One by one these ordinary people teach us how to obey and overcome, to persevere and trust. Reading through their experiences we find great trials and suffering, persecution and discouragement. We also find victories and triumphs, blessings and favor. What these heroes discovered and what encourages and motivates us today is what we learn from Hebrews 11:6 (NLT), "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him." Over the next three days, we will look closely at this verse and uncover what it means to please God through faith. We will ask ourselves what we really want when we come to Him. We will clarify what we believe and determine what we need to increase our belief. We will discuss what it means for God to reward us. Are there immediate awards? Long term awards? What does that look like?