It feels like just yesterday we were setting goals and dreaming big for the new year. For some of us, things may be going exactly as planned. For others, not so much—we may feel like we’ve drifted from our intentions or lost momentum along the way. But no matter where you find yourself today, I invite you to think about how you’d like to proceed with the 2^nd half of 2025.

One thing the Lord has placed on my heart these past few months is going back to the basics, one of which is faith. Not just the idea of faith, but a deeper, more intimate understanding of it. What exactly is faith? Why is it essential to our walk with God? How does it shape the way we live?

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” ~ Hebrews 11:1 (NLT). If you grew up in church or have been around believers for a while, this verse might be very familiar. But have you ever stopped to really think about what it’s saying? Faith is described as REALITY and EVIDENCE which mean solid, legal, indisputable. This means faith isn’t some vague or fluffy feeling. It’s not just optimism or wishful thinking. It’s concrete. It’s truth we stand on. Usually, we stop at verse 1 when we talk about faith, however, let’s look at verse 3 as well.

“By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” ~ Hebrews 11:3 (NLT). This verse shifts our focus to God’s supreme power. It reminds us that faith is not only about trusting for personal breakthroughs—it’s about recognizing and revering the Sovereignty of God, who created everything from nothing. That’s the kind of faith that invites us to live in total dependence on Him. This is one of the major reasons faith is important.

“Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation…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.” ~ Hebrews 11:2 & 6 (NLT). Faith is more than just a means to get what we want—it’s the very key to pleasing God. It’s how we walk with Him, how we grow, how we endure, and how we shine as His witnesses in the world.

So, as we step into the 2^nd half of 2025, I encourage you to take some time to examine your own walk of faith. Ask yourself: Am I living by faith? Am I trusting God with my WHOLE life, or only parts of it? My prayer is that this next season of our lives will be marked by deeper trust, unshakable belief, and bold steps taken with God. May we live each day by faith, real, evidence-backed, God-honoring faith, and may it lead us into a life that truly reflects Jesus’ heart. As we do this, I know we will continue growing 2gether. Grace and Peace 🙂