The Fernandina Giant Tortoise was extinct. I say “was” as that was what everybody thought considering there hadn’t been a sighting of one in over 100 years. But then there was one. In the Galápagos. In February 2019. And in addition to that sighting, scientists discovered bite marks on nearby cacti which led them to believe there may be more living in the area.

Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

But what do we do when we doubt something or someone’s presence? How do we get assurance about things we cannot see? Assurance of God’s goodness, His love, His faithfulness, His rescue, His promises, purpose and presence?

Through faith. But what do we do if our faith is lacking?!

The Greek for faith in Hebrews 11, pistis, comes from the root ‘to persuade, be persuaded’. Faith in this context is “God’s divine persuasion”, it is His gift to us (Ephesians 2:8-9), it is never something we have to manufacture from within. And so if you’ve been struggling like the disciples, afraid and with “little faith” (Matthew 8:26) then don’t panic, God hasn’t disappeared like the Fernandina Giant Tortoise, He’s been there all along, just ask Him for more faith.

Persuade me again Jesus, help my apistia, help my ‘unfaithfulness’, “help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

And you never know, your eyes might be opened to see bite marks in the nearby cacti, evidence that He’s been there all along.