How can we know if or when we’re pleasing God?

Hebrews 11:5-7 says, “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—he disappeared, because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Scripture is clear that without true, real, and genuine faith … it’s impossible to please God. So the answer to our question (at least in part), is we must first put our trust in God for our salvation in order to know that we can please Him.

A good Biblical definition for faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 which says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]”

I think it’s vitally important for us to understand that assurance in this verse does not mean wishful thinking. Rather, the more accurate translation is along the lines of ‘evidence’ or ‘proof’ of our faith that is foundational to the confidence that God wants all of us to experience.

It’s wise at times (especially when we’re having doubts about whether He’s even present with us) to revisit our foundational experience of when we first became born again! To remember what changed once we surrendered ownership of lives unto Jesus … and after sincerely repenting what it felt like having our sins forgiven and wiped away.