Dear Jehovah's Witnesses

Faith is a term that gets used often, but it is not always well understood. The Bible gives a clear starting point in Book of Hebrews 11:1–2, where faith is described as “the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.” This definition immediately stretches beyond what modern thinking tends to accept. In a world shaped by scientific materialism, many people assume that only what is visible or measurable is real. Yet the biblical concept of faith calls us to recognize a deeper reality—one that is not always seen with the eyes but is no less certain.

This idea can be illustrated in a familiar way. In the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, starring Harrison Ford, there is a powerful scene in which the main character faces a vast, seemingly bottomless chasm. He must cross it to reach what will save his father’s life. From his perspective, there is no visible path—only empty space. Yet when he takes a step of faith, he discovers that there is in fact a hidden bridge beneath him. The path was real all along; it simply could not be seen until he acted in faith. While this is only a cinematic illustration, it captures an important truth: faith is not blind belief, but trust in a reality that is not immediately visible.

In everyday life, we see smaller reflections of this principle. Consider the trust fall exercise often used in team-building. A person stands on a ledge, closes their eyes, and falls backward, trusting that others will catch them. This requires confidence in people—an expectation that they will do what they have promised. Faith in God operates on a much higher level, but it includes a similar element of trust. It is confidence that God will do what He has said, even when circumstances make that seem unlikely.

Jesus emphasized the importance of continually growing in faith. In Gospel of Luke 17:5, the apostles said to him, “Give us more faith.” This request shows that faith is not static; it can increase. And it must increase, because the promises of God are so extraordinary that they can seem almost beyond belief from a human standpoint. The hope of everlasting life, the restoration of all things, and the fulfillment of God’s purposes require us to trust in something far greater than what we currently see.

The Scriptures also acknowledge that humans can struggle with faith. A striking example is found in the account of Gideon in Book of Judges 6:36–40. Gideon asked God for a sign involving a fleece of wool—first requesting that the fleece be wet while the ground remained dry, and then the opposite. Although this could be seen as testing God, it also reveals something important: God understands human weakness. Rather than rejecting Gideon, He responded with patience and reassurance, strengthening Gideon’s faith for what lay ahead.

True faith, then, is not the absence of questions or doubts. It is the willingness to trust God despite them. As Second Book of Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” Faith allows us to act on God’s promises even when we cannot yet see their fulfillment. It is grounded not in wishful thinking, but in confidence in God’s character—His reliability, His power, and His purpose.

In the end, faith is both a gift and a responsibility. It grows as we reflect on God’s past actions, meditate on His Word, and put trust into practice in our daily lives. Like the unseen bridge in the story, the realities God promises are not imaginary—they are simply beyond our current sight. Faith is what enables us to step forward, confident that what God has spoken will, without fail, come to pass.