How to Have Faith That is Certain

How do you keep going when life feels foggy?
When it's uncertain, risky, even dangerous?

When the unexpected hits and you can’t see what’s coming next, how do you hold on to faith? That question isn't just theoretical. It’s deeply personal for many of us. And it was for Noah too.

Yes, that Noah. The one with the ark. You may have heard his story, maybe even decorated a nursery with smiling animals two by two. But there’s far more to Noah than children’s books let on.

In Hebrews 11:7, the writer condenses Noah’s entire life into a single verse. It’s a verse worth sitting with, especially for those trying to walk with God through the fog of the unknown.

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." (Hebrews 11:7, KJV)

Let’s unpack this verse, phrase by phrase, and explore what it means to live with faith when nothing around you feels certain.

“Warned of God of Things Not Seen as Yet”
That phrase, “things not seen as yet”, is the heart of this moment.

We like to see. We like clarity. But life often requires faith before sight.

God warned Noah that something was coming, something he could not yet see. A flood. A destruction of life as it was. In Genesis 6, we find the details of what Noah was warned about:

"The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Genesis 6:11-13, KJV)

And then God gives Noah an assignment. Build an ark.

He gives him the dimensions, the materials, the structure. He tells him to gather animals, stock food, and prepare for something that had never happened before. A flood? Rain like this? None of it made sense.

But what stands out most is Genesis 6:22. “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

Even though Noah couldn’t see the storm clouds. Even though there was no evidence of rain. Even though the assignment felt outrageous and risky.

He did it.

Would Noah Believe God?
That was the question. And it’s the question that still echoes in our own lives today.
Would Noah believe God, even when he didn’t understand what a flood was? Even when he had no experience in shipbuilding? Even when people likely mocked and questioned his every move?

Would you?

God may not be asking you to build a boat. But He may be stirring something in your heart, calling you to step forward into an unknown, risky, unseen thing. And when He does, the question for all of us is, Will we believe Him?

What to Do When You Can't See the Land
Noah’s story gives us some deeply practical encouragement for those moments when the fog is real and the ground under your feet feels uncertain.

Here’s the first truth we see from Noah’s faith.

You can be certain, even in uncertainty.

That may sound contradictory at first, but hear it again. You can have certainty, even in uncertain times. Not in your circumstances. Not in your control. But in God’s Word.

Imagine being Noah. The sky is clear. There’s no thunder, no warning sirens, no signs of trouble. Just a word from God.

If you're a “when” person, you’re asking, When will it rain, God?

If you're a “where” person, you're wondering, Where am I supposed to go? What’s next?

If you're a “how” person, you’re stuck thinking, How is this all going to work? How do I even gather all these animals? Do I really have to include the snakes too?

Noah wasn’t a shipbuilder. He was a farmer. To obey God meant leaving the safety of his familiar, experienced world and stepping into something completely new.

To follow God, he had to let go of the life he knew.

Isn’t that often the case with us too? God doesn’t show us the whole picture. He gives us enough light for the next step. And the question becomes, Will we trust Him enough to take it?

The Power of Listening
There’s another phrase that shows up again and again in Noah’s story. In Genesis 6:13, Genesis 7:1, Genesis 8:15, Genesis 9:8, and Genesis 9:17, we read, “And God said unto Noah…”

Over and over again, God speaks and Noah listens.

That rhythm of sitting and listening to God shaped Noah’s obedience. And it’s key for us too. When you’re walking through a season where you can't see, when it feels risky and unclear, the most certain thing you can do is anchor yourself in God's Word.

Because His Word is steady.

His voice cuts through the fog.

His truth doesn’t shift with your circumstances.

So many of us are grasping for something solid in uncertain seasons, something that won’t change, something that can hold the weight of our questions, fears, and next steps. God’s Word is that anchor.

Noah didn’t have a blueprint for how the flood would unfold. But he had a word from God. And that was enough.

What Is God Stirring in You?
Maybe God is stirring something in you right now. A decision. A calling. A change. And it feels like stepping out into the unknown. It doesn’t make full sense yet, and you can’t see how it will all work out.

But He’s speaking. Nudging. Convicting. Prodding.

And in that stirring, the question remains. Will you believe Him?

Noah did.

Even when it was strange. Even when it was hard. Even when he had more questions than answers.

He still believed.

Faith in the Fog
Faith doesn’t mean we get to see the whole picture.

Faith means we trust the One who does.

Noah's story isn't just about animals and rainbows. It's about obedience when the path is unclear. It’s about moving forward when the future is foggy. It’s about believing God's Word over what you see, or don’t see, with your eyes.

So when the fog rolls in, when the risk feels high, when the danger is real, and when life just doesn’t make sense, be certain.

Not in yourself.

But in God’s voice.

Because even when you can't see the land, His Word is always sure.



This blog is based on the message shared by Campus Pastor Chris DeArman at our CityRise Bellaire campus on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Check out the full message below!