Hebrews 11:1 is the most concise, yet comprehensive, definition of faith in Scripture.

With that said, I heard an alternative expression many years ago: Faith is “seeing things (or people) as God sees them.” That view has been helpful in my spiritual journey. Though the wording is different, it complements today’s verse quite well.

An example of faith in action that consistently pops into my mind is the account of Gideon. The Lord called him a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). At that moment, Gideon hardly fit the title. He was hiding from Israel’s enemies. He lamented Israel’s persecution and expressed his conclusion that it was divinely caused. He requested multiple signs before he was confident enough to move forward with God’s charge.

However, God wasn’t wrong in calling him valorous. He wasn’t looking at Gideon’s present, but rather at his potential. Later, by the Lord’s strength, through faith, Gideon led the Israelites in a very unconventional way to defeat the Midianites.

Faith enables me to put on God’s glasses so I can see the immeasurable value He sees in me and everyone else, as well as envision His capacity to accomplish the impossible.