The beginnings of faith.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
(Letter to the Hebrew Christians, circulated in the churches)

Verse 6 of Hebrews 11 has been used by Christians to discourage and confuse people who are seeking a closer relationship with God.
The words, 'Without faith it is impossible to please God' have been used to suggest that you must believe in God or you can not be acceptable to him. What the context actually says is that anyone who looks for God already believes that God exists, otherwise he wouldn't be looking for God. So be encouraged, most people are already gifted with a small amount of faith.

Faith, any kind of faith, does not start with the believer but with the object he believes in. We trust a bridge to carry our vehicle across the river because we know other vehicles have already crossed it. Not because we have worked up a certain feeling about the bridge. Faith in God is similar, we are surrounded by people who convince us that God is good and can be trusted.

Words to live by

The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
(Words of Jesus, reported in John's gospel)

God loves us all however, even before we believe that Jesus is from God. People who are loved by God are still being hated and slaughtered by other people who are also loved by God. The old English word for patience was, 'long-suffering'. God surely suffers as his loved ones are killed by his loved ones. How long, I wonder, will God be willing to suffer?