Daily Devotional (June 13, 2024) Faith Beyond Sight: Trusting God When We Can't See the Way.
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1 As Christians, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. But what does that mean, exactly? How can we trust God when we can't see the way ahead? How can we have faith in His promises when our circ*mstances seem to contradict them? In this sermon, we'll explore the concept of faith beyond sight and learn how to trust God even when we can't see what's next.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In other words, faith is not about what we can see or touch or feel; it's about what we trust God for, even when we can't perceive it with our senses. Faith is the assurance that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He has promised to do.
Abraham is a great example of faith beyond sight. In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abraham to leave his home and family and travel to a land that God will show him. But God doesn't give Abraham a map or a GPS coordinates; He simply says, "Go, and I will show you." Abraham trusts God, even though he can't see the way ahead. And because of his faith, he becomes the father of a great nation and a hero of the faith.
God's promises are not based on our ability to see or understand them. In fact, often God's promises seem impossible or illogical to our human minds. But that's the point of faith: to trust God even when we can't see how He's going to fulfill His promises. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul writes, "We walk by faith, not by sight." This means that we trust God's promises, even when we can't see them with our eyes.
So how can we practice faith beyond sight? First, we must learn to trust God's character. We must know that God is good, that He loves us, and that He wants the best for us. Second, we must learn to trust God's promises. We must read and study His Word, and we must believe what He says. Third, we must learn to trust God's timing. We must understand that God's timing is not our timing, and that He often works in ways that we can't see or understand.
Faith beyond sight is not easy. It requires us to trust God when we can't see the way ahead. It requires us to believe in His promises, even when they seem impossible. And it requires us to trust in His timing, even when we can't understand it. But the rewards of faith beyond sight are immeasurable. When we trust God, even when we can't see, we experience His peace, His joy, and His presence in our lives.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of faith beyond sight. Moses trusted God to lead him out of Egypt, even when he couldn't see the way ahead. David trusted God to defeat Goliath, even when he couldn't see how it would happen. And Mary trusted God to conceive Jesus, even when she couldn't see how it would be possible.
So how can we apply faith beyond sight to our own lives? First, we must learn to trust God in the small things. We must trust Him to provide for our daily needs, to guide us in our decisions, and to protect us from harm. Second, we must learn to trust God in the big things. We must trust Him to fulfill His promises, to answer our prayers, and to work everything out for our good. And third, we must learn to trust God in the impossible things. We must trust Him to do what seems impossible, to move mountains, and to make a way where there seems to be no way.
Faith beyond sight is not easy, but it is worth it. When we trust God, even when we can't see, we experience His peace, His joy, and His presence in our lives. We become like Abraham, who trusted God and became the father of a great nation. We become like Moses, who trusted God and led his people out of Egypt. And we become like Mary, who trusted God and conceived Jesus. May we learn to trust God beyond what we can see, and may our faith be a shining example to a watching world.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for the gift of faith. Help us to trust you, even when we can't see the way ahead. Help us to believe in your promises, even when they seem impossible. And help us to trust in your timing, even when
