The Evidence of Things

The Definition of Strength

By Dean Maxwell

The unshakable anchor of faith!!

Grace and peace to you all.

My name is Dean Maxwell, and if there is one thing I have learned throughout the journey of my life, it is this: faith is not just a word; it is the very breath in my lungs.

The author of Hebrews begins Chapter 11 with a powerful definition: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence) of things not seen.” For a very long time—all the way through my life—I have had to hold onto that assurance.

Before I truly knew the Lord, I was searching, but now that I have found Jesus Christ, I realize that faith is the engine that keeps me moving forward. It is the bridge between the trials of today and the promises of tomorrow.

The Scale of Faith: From Basketballs to Mustard Seeds

In my own walk, I’ve noticed that faith doesn’t always look the same. There are seasons where my faith feels as big as a basketball—bold, bouncy, and impossible to ignore. In those moments, I feel like I can take on the world, and the presence of Jesus is like a fire shut up in my bones. But let’s be honest: there are other seasons. There are days when life presses in, and my faith feels as small as a mustard seed. It’s tiny. It’s fragile. It’s barely there. But here is the miracle of the Gospel: Jesus told us in Matthew 17:20 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains.

The power of your faith isn’t measured by its volume, but by its Object. Whether my faith is the size of a basketball or a tiny seed, it is placed in a Savior who is infinite.

It isn’t about the size of the faith; it’s about the size of the God in whom that faith resides.

No matter the scale, my faith has always been there because Jesus has always been there.

The Hall of Faith: Standing with the Greats

Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith.” It lists Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. It tells us about people who walked through floods, left their homes for unknown lands, and faced lions. When we look at these heroes, we see they weren’t perfect people; they were persistent people.

They chose to believe God’s Word over their own circumstances.

When I look back at my life, I see my name written in the margins of that chapter. Not because I am a hero, but because I am a survivor by the grace of God. Like those in Hebrews 11, we are called to look forward to a “better country.”

Our faith allows us to see the “Invisible One” and endure the visible hardships.

Faith Over Fear

The world tries to feed us a diet of fear. Fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. But as a believer in Jesus Christ, I stand firm on a different foundation: Faith Over Fear.

Fear paralyzes, but faith mobilizes.

Fear looks at the giant, but faith looks at the Five Stones and the God who directs them.

In Hebrews 11:34, it says that through faith, they “quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong.” If you are feeling weak today, know that your faith is the pipeline for God’s strength.

When we choose faith over fear, we aren’t saying the danger isn’t real; we are saying that Jesus is more real. We are saying that the Lion of Judah is bigger than whatever is roaring in our ears.

The Race Set Before Us

As I stand here today, Dean Maxwell, a man kept by the power of God, I encourage you to hold fast. Your faith has been there through the dark nights and the bright mornings. It has been your constant companion.

Don’t let the enemy tell you your faith is too small. If it’s there, it’s enough.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Stand firm.

Walk bold.

Choose faith over fear every single hour.

Because at the end of the road, we will see that our faith wasn’t just a feeling—it was the hand of Jesus holding onto us the hold time.

Amen.

The Definition of Our Strength was written by Dean Maxwell, aka Faithoverfear, and was posted here with permission.

Dean lives in Nottingham, England, UK and is a member of the men’s group Brothers In Christ, based in the UK.