Hebrews 11:1-6 "Trusting in a God You Can't See"

“How Can I Teach My Kids to Trust a God They Can’t See?”

It’s one of the hardest parenting questions we face: How do I help my child believe in God when they can’t see Him, hear Him, or touch Him? In a world filled with screens and instant answers, the invisible can feel unreal. But faith is exactly what God calls us to. And Hebrews 11:1–6 shows us how to pass that faith on to our kids—starting right where they are.

 

Big Idea:

Faith means trusting that God is real and keeps His promises, even when we can’t see Him.

 

Passage Summary: What Is Faith, Really?

Hebrews 11 opens with a definition: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This chapter is often called the “Hall of Faith” chapter because it lists story after story of people who trusted God no matter what.

Noah built a boat before the rain came.
Abraham followed God to a place he’d never seen.
Moses chose God's plan over popularity and power.

And the list goes on.

The writer of Hebrews makes one thing clear: all these people lived by faith. They trusted God’s promises. They didn’t have all the answers. But they believed in the unseen because they knew the One who made the promise.

And then we get to verse 6:
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Faith is not just wishful thinking. It’s trusting that God is real. That He is good. And that He keeps His word.

 

How to Teach This at Home

Here are three ways to help your child trust God, even when they can’t see Him:

1. Use everyday examples of invisible things.
Talk about things we can’t see but know are real—like wind, gravity, or love. Ask your child: “Can we see the wind?” No. “But how do we know it’s there?” Help them see that faith works in a similar way. We trust in what we can’t see because we’ve seen its effects.

2. Share stories of faith from the Bible—and your own life.
Tell your kids how Abraham followed God. Or how you once prayed for something and saw God provide. Real stories help build real trust. 

3. Help them act in faith.
Encourage your child to take a small step of faith. Maybe that means praying for something without knowing the answer. Or showing kindness without expecting anything back. Let them see that faith means trusting and acting.

 

How This Points to Jesus

Every person in Hebrews 11 was ultimately pointing forward to Jesus—the one who would fulfill every promise God ever made.

Jesus is the perfect example of faith. He trusted the Father completely, even unto death. And He invites us to follow Him—not because we can see everything clearly, but because we can trust the One who sees all.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” —John 20:29

That’s the kind of faith we’re helping our kids build. Not blind faith. But confident faith in a God who has always kept His word.

 

Want help teaching your kids one story at a time?

Download our free [Foundations Sample Pack] and start this week. It’s a simple way to help your kids grow in faith—one gospel-centered story at a time.