Faith Is the Gaze of a Soul upon a Saving God and Hope in His Promises
- Elisabeth H. Drew
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Faith is often misunderstood as effort or certainty. Yet Scripture presents faith as something quieter and deeper—a posture of the heart turned toward God. It is the soul choosing to look to Him, not because everything is clear, but because He is faithful.
Hope, closely bound to faith, is not wishful thinking. It is confident expectation rooted in God’s promises, sustained by His Spirit. Together, faith and hope anchor the believer’s life in the unchanging character of God.
In this article, Faith Is the Gaze of a Soul upon a Saving God & Hope in His Promises, we explore how Scripture defines faith and hope—not as effort or certainty, but as a quiet trust in God’s character and a confident expectation rooted in His unchanging promises, while also clarifying how these words are often reshaped and diluted in today’s culture.
Understanding Faith as the Soul’s Gaze
Faith is not about having perfect knowledge or visible proof. Instead, it is a posture of the heart. It is the soul choosing to look toward God, even when circumstances are unclear or difficult. This gaze is quiet but powerful.
Faith trusts God’s character: The Bible shows faith as trust in God’s unchanging nature. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This means faith rests on who God is, not on what we see or understand.
Faith is a choice, not an effort: Faith is not about trying harder or forcing belief. It is a decision to turn the heart toward God, acknowledging His saving power. This choice often happens in moments of silence and stillness, not loud declarations.
Faith grows through experience: As believers walk with God, their faith deepens. They see God’s faithfulness in past trials and promises fulfilled, which strengthens their gaze upon Him.
Christian faith does not begin with human belief; it begins with God’s faithfulness. Scripture never presents faith as a psychological state, emotional intensity, or personal certainty. Faith is a response to who God is and what He has revealed.
Faith is relational. It is the soul turning toward God as Savior, trusting His Word even when understanding is incomplete.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.
Faith provides assurance because it rests on God’s promises, not on visible evidence.
Hope Rooted in God’s Promises
Hope is closely linked to faith but is not the same. Hope is the confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises. God Himself is called the God of hope. Hope is not self-generated; it is imparted by the Holy Spirit as believers trust God. Joy and peace are not prerequisites for hope—they are the fruit of believing.
Hope is confident expectation: Romans 15:13 speaks of hope filling believers with joy and peace as they trust in God. This hope is active and sure, not passive or uncertain.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hope is sustained by the Spirit: The Holy Spirit helps believers hold onto hope, especially when circumstances challenge their faith. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Hope flows out of faith. When faith fixes its gaze on God, hope naturally arises.
Hope anchors the soul: In turbulent times, hope keeps believers steady—not by removing instability, but by holding the heart firm in God’s promises.
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil,
In Scripture, hope is described as an anchor—not something fragile or emotional, but something secure and immovable. This image reveals how Christian hope holds the believer fast when life feels uncertain, grounding the soul in what God has promised rather than in what circumstances suggest.
Secular Faith vs the Truth of God
For many people today, the word faith can feel confusing. In everyday language, faith is often used in a secular sense—meaning optimism, confidence, or belief that things will work out.
People may say they have "faith in themselves", "faith in the universe", or "faith that everything happens for a reason". While these expressions reflect a longing for hope, they reveal how faith has been reshaped to fit a society increasingly disconnected from God. In this form, faith becomes untethered—centered on what feels reassuring rather than on what is true.
When faith is removed from God’s Word, it loses its foundation, and many are left searching for meaning without an anchor.
Colossians 2:8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
Christian faith also involves what is unseen, but it is never undefined or uncertain. It is trust in the living God, grounded in His revealed truth and in promises that have already been fulfilled throughout history and in Christ. What is unseen to us is not unknown to God.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.
When faith is anchored in God’s truth and faithfulness, it offers more than comfort—it provides direction, stability, and hope that does not drift, because it rests on who God is and what He has done.
Secular Hope vs Hope Rooted in God
In everyday language, hope is often expressed as trust in life itself. People may say, “Trust life,” “Life will provide,” or “Everything will work out somehow.” These expressions are usually well-intended, offering reassurance in uncertain times.
Yet when Hope is placed in “life” without understanding where life comes from, it becomes vague and unstable. Modern culture often encourages trust in existence itself while remaining uncertain—or silent—about its origin. Some explanations of life point to the Big Bang, which is a theory, not an observable fact, proposed in the twentieth century by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian Catholic priest and physicist. While influential in scientific discussion, this hypothesis does not explain why life exists, nor does it provide meaning, purpose, or hope.
Scripture presents a different foundation. The Bible teaches that life is not self-created, self-directed, or sustained by chance. Life comes from God.
Acts 17:24–25 The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.
Biblical Hope is not trust in life as an abstract force. It is trust in the God who gives life, sustains it, and governs it according to His purpose.
Psalm 36:9 For with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light.
Hope rooted in God recognizes that creation has meaning because it has a Creator. Life is not an accident, and hope is not guesswork. Christian hope rests on the truth that God is the source of life and the author of purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.
When hope is anchored in God, it becomes steady and purposeful. It does not deny hardship, but it trusts that life is held in the hands of the One who created it.
Faith and Hope Together in the Christian Life
Faith looks to God’s character.Hope rests in God’s promises.
Faith trusts God now.Hope waits for what God will do.
Together, they shape the Christian life—not by removing difficulty, but by grounding the believer in truth.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Walking by faith does not mean ignoring reality. It means interpreting reality through God’s Word rather than through fear or uncertainty.
Hope keeps the believer oriented toward God’s future purposes.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Christian hope is living because Christ is living. The resurrection anchors both faith and hope in eternal truth.
Examples from Scripture and Life
The Bible shows us faith and hope in action, and we see the same trust lived out in life today.
Abraham’s faith: Abraham trusted God’s promise to make him a father of many nations, even when it seemed impossible (Genesis 15). His faith was a gaze fixed on God’s character, not on his own circumstances.
Paul’s hope: Despite imprisonment and hardship, Paul expressed confident hope in God’s plan (Philippians 1:20-21). His hope was rooted in God’s promises and sustained by the Spirit.
Modern-day stories: Many believers today find strength in faith and hope during illness, loss, or uncertainty. Their quiet trust and confident expectation reflect the same principles found in Scripture.
These examples remind us that faith and hope are not confined to biblical history, but continue to shape lives today wherever hearts choose to trust God and rest in His promises.
How Faith and Hope Shape Daily Life
Faith and Hope are not abstract ideas but practical realities that influence how believers live.
Facing uncertainty with peace: When life is uncertain, faith allows believers to look beyond immediate troubles. They trust God’s character and promises, which brings peace amid chaos.
Persevering through trials: Hope gives strength to endure hardships. Knowing God’s promises will be fulfilled encourages believers to keep going, even when the path is hard.
Making decisions with confidence: Faith and hope guide choices. Believers rely on God’s wisdom and promises rather than fear or doubt.
Encouraging others: Sharing faith and hope can uplift others. When believers express their quiet trust and confident expectation, they offer encouragement to those struggling.
Faith and hope shape how Christians live daily.
Cultivating Faith and Hope
Faith teaches believers to trust God’s guidance rather than their own understanding.
Hope teaches believers to endure patiently, confident that God is at work.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,
Building faith and hope is a daily practice that involves:
Regular reflection on Scripture: Reading and meditating on God’s promises helps the soul fix its gaze on Him.
Prayer and silence: Quiet moments with God deepen trust and open the heart to hope.
Community support: Sharing faith journeys with others encourages growth and perseverance.
Remembering past faithfulness: Reflecting on how God has been faithful in the past strengthens present faith and hope.
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
The Christian life is sustained not by control, but by trust.
Last Thoughts: Faith Is the Gaze of a Soul upon a Saving God and Hope in His Promises
Faith is not certainty.
Hope is not wishful thinking.
Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.
Hope is the confident expectation that His promises will never fail.
Psalm 130:5 I wait for Yahweh. My soul waits. I hope in his word.
When faith fixes its eyes on God, hope steadies the heart—and the believer learns to rest in the faithfulness of the One who saves.
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