STXWM Blog

When I first heard this year’s theme, I’ll admit, I had to do some research.  Audacious is not a word we hear often in everyday conversation.  My good friend, MaKenzie V., is brilliant with languages and had already done some of this research before I ever started.  She was gracious enough to share the following with me:

Audacious is an adjective meaning “intrepidly daring, adventurous, and recklessly bold.”  Some synonyms include bold, brazen, cheeky, cocky, impertinent, sassy, and nervy.  Alternately, antonyms for Audacious include careful, cautious, guarded, prudent, safe, and wary.

Now that we know what Audacious means, what is faith?  I didn’t go to the dictionary for this one.  Hebrews 11 tells us that (1) “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Later in verse 3 the writer continues to explain that “by faith we understand that the entire universe was formed by God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”(NLT)

Hebrews 11 is often called the “faith chapter” because it is a long list of heroes of the faith from the Old Testament.  The author of Hebrews drew on their stories to demonstrate to the Jewish believers in Rome that living by faith is deemed as an act of righteousness by God.  Just the very act of believing that God can and will come through for us is viewed as righteousness by Him.

I am often guilty of seeking to demonstrate my righteousness to God which inevitably ends with me comparing my righteousness to that of others.  It’s a silly thought to compare righteousness with someone else when it is something that cannot be seen by me.  Only God can see our hearts and lives in their entirety.  So, what should I really be doing?  According to Hebrews 11, I should have faith in God and act on that faith.  

Having Audacious Faith is not about running straight ahead with our eyes closed into the unknown.  It is about knowing that the God who made the promise is the God who will keep it.  It is about praying the prayer of faith and believing that God can and will heal.  It is about holding on to the hand of the Father while you walk through what feels like an unending storm.  It is about daring to heal from a past hurt and trusting God to help you open your heart again.  Audacious Faith will also carry you through when things don’t go as you planned.

Faith is bold and daring but it is not unwise.  It is reckless in a way that has you calling on the resources of Heaven rather than what you have at your disposal on earth.  Audacious Faith will keep you trusting God for a healing when doctors tell you there is no hope.  Audacious Faith will keep you growing and learning when this world tells you that it’s too late.  Audacious Faith tells you to keep going when all you can do is make it from one day to the next.  Audacious Faith will keep you running back to the Father when this world says you’re a fool for believing; when things seem like they haven’t changed.

Jesus told Thomas “Blessed are they who have believed and have not seen.” (John 20:29)  It is even more challenging to believe when we pray and we don’t see the answer we expected or it takes longer than we expected to arrive.  It is daring and bold to have faith at the bedside of a sick loved one and it is bolder still to have faith at the graveside.

“She will be known for the boldness of her faith.” This line is emblazoned across the National Women’s Ministries webpage.  In 2025, I want to challenge myself, and you, to be known by the boldness of our faith.  This is not about what others think of us but instead what our lives can cause others to think about Jesus.  I want others to see that when things are going well this year, I will thank Him and when things are not going well, I will trust Him.  The theme verse for this year is Matthew 19:26, “With men this thing is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  It is audacious of us to believe even when it is impossible with the strength of this world.  It is audacious of us to have faith when we are not enjoying the season where we are walking.  The writer in Hebrews 11 reminds us that all we see in creation was made from what we cannot see.  This is the evidence of what we hope for.  This is Audacious Faith.

This year I choose not to make resolutions but instead to commit to living with Audacious Faith every day.  I will pray with faith for signs and wonders and I will pray just as fervently for peace, patience, and greater faith than ever before.