Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city…32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Life doesn’t always work out like we expected. This is especially complicated when we have sought God for an answer and had genuine faith that He heard us. When we are praying for breakthroughs, miracles, or answers that—at least in our perspective—seem clearly aligned with the will of God, it can be devastating when we are left without an answer… or with a different one than we hoped for.

These moments in our faith are not easy to swallow. Honestly, they can feel extremely unfair. At times, they can make God seem distant or even uncaring. But the writer of Hebrews gives us insight into these moments—what I like to call “God’s cliffhangers.”

A cliffhanger is when a story seems to end without a full explanation or without complete context for what happened or why it happened. God’s cliffhangers only make sense when we realize we are not living in the final season.

God is writing a story that is bigger than the single scene we find ourselves in. There were people who came before us, and as we wait for Christ to return, there will be people who come after us. This is the story of faith—and it includes some hard realities to reconcile in this life.

The writer of Hebrews says it this way:

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

Living by faith means understanding that our story is part of a much greater His-story.

Sometimes living by faith gives us the outcomes we desire—breakthroughs, miracles, victories. And sometimes living by that same faith submits us to God’s determined outcomes—persecution, loss, suffering, and even death. But remember, these stories are part of a larger, eternal story.

Faith, by definition, requires trust without full visibility. As Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So as your father, I charge you to keep believing. Keep hoping. Keep trusting—even when clarity doesn’t come. Even when answers feel delayed beyond our lifetime. Because somehow, in ways we may not yet understand, God is working all things together for good.

And the story is not over yet.

Prayer: Father God, life isn’t always fair. Even as a preacher and a Christian of almost forty years, there are things I don’t understand. It is hard. It is frustrating. And I know—for my kids—it can be challenging as well. Nevertheless, I put my trust in You. I trust that You will work all things for our good, even if we have to wait until eternity to see the answer. I praise You, for You are faithful. Holy Spirit, lead and guide my children into Your full purpose.

In Jesus’ name, amen.