Now Faith: From Then to Now
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. It lists story after story of men and women who lived by faith. Over seventeen times the chapter repeats that phrase—by faith Noah built, by faith Abraham obeyed, by faith Moses led. Every one of those examples points backward to what God had already done in someone’s life.
But before the chapter begins with their stories, it opens with this:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
That phrase “now faith” has been stirring in me. By faith honors what God has done, but now faith trusts Him for what He wants to do today. Too many times we live in the “by faith” stories of yesterday instead of asking, What would a step of faith look like in my life right now?
My Step of “Now Faith”
Recently, I committed to being active and watching what I eat. For six weeks now, I’ve stayed consistent—not because it’s been fun or easy, but because I felt the Lord nudging me to honor Him with how I care for this body He’s given me.
It’s not always easy mornings. It takes commitment just to show up. Some days I cover a lot of ground; other days I’m just proud that I made it out the door to work out. And the same is true in this now faith journey. Some days the Lord drops an incredible amount of wisdom and insight into my heart. Other days, it feels quieter—just the sound of crickets and roosters crowing at the rising of the sun.
But regardless, I’ve chosen to remain committed. Because it’s in the consistency that He meets me. He encourages my faith, strengthens my resolve, and reminds me that the life of faith is about taking the next right step—even when I don’t see all the results yet.
As I reflected on this, it hit me: every person listed in Hebrews 11 made a now faith decision in their moment. They didn’t know they’d be in the Hall of Faith one day. They were just choosing obedience right then and there. But those now faith choices became by faith testimonies that still inspire us today.
So here’s the challenge: if our stories were being written down for people 2,000 years from now, would our “now faith” moments turn into “by faith” lessons that others could learn and grow from?
Two Action Steps for You
Identify your “now step.”
What’s one area of your life where God might be asking you to trust Him today? It could be in your marriage, your fatherhood, your health, your work, or your finances. Don’t wait for the big moment—faith begins in the small, consistent steps.Move from story to practice.
Don’t just admire the “by faith” stories of Scripture or your past—create your own “now faith” story. Take one step this week where your actions prove your trust in God.
