I once spoke with a young lady who felt like she was at the end of her rope. Things weren’t working out; the children were acting up; her finances were in disarray. Though she was a Christian, she couldn’t help but wonder where God was in the midst of all this.
Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
My faith lets me know that God still has a plan for my life. Throughout our lives we will be faced with many obstacles and situations that cause us to examine our faith. Questions concerning the death of loved ones, natural disasters and personal catastrophes undoubtedly will cause us to question God at different points in our lives. However, we forget that we can only see a small portion of the overall plan that God has for each of us. For those who believe in Him, our faith becomes the solid foundation on which we stand.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. If you need an example, remember the three Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel who were threatened by King Nebuchadnezzar to die a terrible death in a fiery furnace. They weren’t concerned about being burned in the fire. They were more concerned with doing the will of God, and their faith allowed them to trust that God was with them.
As we continue our spiritual walk, trouble sometimes will find us, but no matter how critical the situation may seem, have enough faith to know that God is with you — even in the fire.
I clearly can remember how, as a child, I attentively watched television commercials that featured small plastic toys changing from cars to robots. The toy was called a “Transformer,” and I can still hear the slogan: “Transformers — more than meets the eye.”
Saints of God, we are more than what meets the eye. What people can’t see on the outside is the faith that transforms us on the inside. Our desire is to please God through our faith in Him and to know that even when we cannot see Him, He’s still in our midst.

Hayes is president of the United Ministerial Alliance and pastor of New Day Outreach Ministry.