HebrewsNäide

In chapter 11, we’ve encountered numerous witnesses of faith—people who had strong trust in God. When faced with such great heroes of faith, it’s natural to have our own doubts: Is my faith strong enough? What happens if I face trials? Can I remain steadfast?

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to think the opposite: Because we have such a great cloud of witnesses, we should be encouraged to run our race. If they made it, then we can too. Ultimately, it wasn’t by their own strength—they, too, only had the faith that God gave them. Jesus is the author and perfecter of their faith and ours. When we fix our eyes on Him, instead of our own limited strength, we are encouraged. To Him we can bring everything that burdens us: suffering, guilt, and temptation.

Reflection

It’s not about you—it’s about Jesus.