DAY 11
AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR
HOLLY MACDONALD, THE WOODS CHURCH
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2
This scripture compares our walk with the Lord to a race— reminding us that the Christian life isn’t free from challenges. If you grew up in church like I did, you’ve probably heard the phrase “author and perfector of our faith” many times. But what does that really mean?
When we say Jesus is the author, it means He is the one who began our faith. He is the initiator. He showed us by His own example how to trust God and live by faith. He’s also the one who gives us the strength to believe and keep going.
Jesus doesn’t just start our faith—He carries it, sustains it, and keeps shaping it. Through life’s hardships, He refines us and patiently makes us more like Him. He’s the one who will see it through to completion.
The last few years have been a season where my faith felt shaky, and honestly, my doubts often felt louder than my trust. But I’m so thankful that this walk with the Lord isn’t a sprint—it’s more like a marathon. And along the way, He’s been so faithful to me. If you keep reading, in verse 3, Scripture encourages us not to grow weary or give up. That’s such a good reminder that He’s still at work, still perfecting me, and He’ll be sure to bring my faith to its full and glorious completion.
In a time when I was struggling and walking through the valley, I couldn’t see what God was doing. But when I came out on the other side, I began to see how He had been perfecting my faith and teaching me these lessons I couldn’t have learned otherwise.
Sometimes answered prayers don’t look like what we pictured in our minds. That doesn’t make them any less answered. If the path were easy, it wouldn’t demand much from us. We wouldn’t see our need for Him and our faith wouldn’t be stretched. It’s in the struggles that we learn to depend fully on God. It’s often in the struggles that we realize how powerless we are on our own. God is our very breath, and every good thing we have flows from Him. I once believed that faith meant never wavering, but I’ve come to understand it differently. Faith is a wrestling, a daily choice to trust God no matter the outcome. It’s living in the tension of, ‘I may struggle with doubt, but I trust You.’The promises in God’s Word remind me that Scripture is alive and active. In it, I find unshakeable truth to cling to, and a deep comfort and peace that only He can give. Delay is sometimes ordained by Him. When things don’t happen on our timeline and frustration sets in, it may be the Lord at work. We can trust that His plans, His purposes, and His timing are always best. Oppression is built on lies—the enemy’s attacks can feel suffocating at times. But keep fighting, keep resisting, and keep filling your mind with God’s truth. Even when His ways are beyond my understanding, I can hold onto this truth: God is a good Father. His love is constant, and His heart is always for my best. God is faithful and steadfast. He never wavers and never fails. He is completely trustworthy, the same yesterday, today and forever. While everything around us may shift and change, He remains constant. We can build our lives on Him with full confidence, knowing that He does not change. Praise unlocks breakthroughs. Even when you don’t feel it, choose to worship. Put on worship music and sing out the truth of who God is. Watch how it shifts your heart and your perspective. One of my favorite song lyrics says, “I’m gonna sing until my heart starts changing, I’m gonna worship ‘til I mean every word.” Worship is more than a song—it invites God’s presence, brings peace in the middle of the storm, and reminds you that He is greater than whatever you’re facing.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being the Author who begins our faith and the Hand who perfects it. Thank You for Your patience and kindness as we learn to trust You more fully. Remind us that in seasons of doubt, waiting, or testing, You are refining us and shaping us into the likeness of Christ. May we continuously draw near to You until our faith becomes sight.