“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” (Hebrews 11:1 AMP)

Thirty-three years ago, my husband and I helped a pastor start a Christian school in Bratislava, Slovakia. I had made a trip to that city several months ahead, partly to explore the housing options for our family of five. The pastor was not encouraging. “There are no apartments available,” he stated matter-of-factly. Glumly, I considered sharing this depressing news with Terry via a telegram: “No accomodation available”.

Later that evening, alone in my hotel room, I stamped my foot emphatically and spoke aloud.

“No! I’m not accepting that there are no places! You promised, Lord, that You have prepared a place for us. I can’t see the reality of it, but I’m trusting You.”

The reality of getting an apartment seemed very remote, but faith pierced through the darkness of unbelief. The pastor had been scanning the newspaper for weeks, but he hadn’t seen anything with his natural eyes. I couldn’t see that apartment, either. But I knew my God, and the promise He had made me. A room at the local YMCA didn’t seem the right option; we had three active boys, two of them teenagers. I had to believe that something better awaited us.

Faith pleases God, because it shows Him that we are approaching life from His point-of-view, where things of real value cannot be seen with the natural eye. Faith pleases God because it shows we trust Him to provide for our needs as a loving father provides for the needs of his children.

An hour before we left our home, the still-connected telephone rang hollowly from the floor of a bedroom devoid of all furniture. A voice from far away triumphantly described an apartment for us–

A living room. A large bedroom and two smaller bedrooms. A kitchen. A bathroom with a washing machine, and the adjacent “water closet”. All these rooms opened into a central hallway in the European style. Not only that, but all the furniture, bedding, dishes and kitchen utensils, heat and electricity were included in the month’s rent. It was less than the rent we were asking for our house in Canada!

My faith had been rewarded.

I burst into happy tears.

When your future appears bleak, hang on to the source of your faith, the Lord himself. He sees the future because he is the future. He holds us in the palm of His hand. He will look after us. Praise the Lord!

Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada