Walk by Faith

By Margarita Perez

“For we live by faith, not by sight.”—2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

Have you ever made a decision based on your emotions, relying on your senses or even on your own understanding? I have, and I've also suffered the consequences attached to those decisions. 

As I started following Jesus and reading His Word, He started showing me promises that I couldn’t understand or even believe. These promises seemed surreal to a woman who was hurt, abused, and abandoned . . . But God (my two favorites words). By placing me in situations where I had to depend on Him alone, He helped me to believe His promises, to trust His character, and to choose to walk by faith in His Word.

Maybe you have the same question I once did: “How can I walk by faith with Jesus when my circumstances and afflictions are real, painful, and need a “real” solution?” In Luke 5, we see the struggle of an experienced fisherman called Simon Peter, who, after working all night, saw his fishing nets were still empty. From the shore, Jesus instructed Peter on what to do. This man, although filled with doubt, trusted the voice of Jesus and obeyed those instructions, even though they didn’t make sense—especially given that these words came from Jesus, who was a carpenter by trade. Peter by faith laid down his net and a boat-sinking load of fish was caught. This is what having faith looks like: trusting His Word even when our circumstances seem impossible.

When we rely on our senses, our emotions, or worldly philosophies, we can easily be deceived. If we live our lives based on sight, we’ll struggle during times of suffering and testing. Faith is believing everything God says in His Word so we can build our lives on the solid foundation—the rock Himself, Jesus Christ.

Our feelings and emotions are gifts from God. They are real, but they are not to control  us. They are not meant to captivate our hearts or lead our steps. Yet, if we humbly present them to the Lord and ask for His Spirit to show us what is truth, we’ll learn how to not react to our circumstances, but to instead act like Christ. This act of surrender puts a smile on the face of our Lord.

Walking by faith means to rely completely on what God says in His Word. A life of faith filters our thoughts, actions, and attitudes allowing us to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He directs us along the path ahead . . . one step at a time. Only Jesus knows how to overcome the trials that have been filtered through His loving hands. He knows the good plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) because He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). 

Pause: Spend some time considering how you tend to react to the things that come your way. What is your usual response? What are you relying on? 

Practice: Walking by faith is easier when you do it in community! Share your feelings and emotions with a trusted Christian friend, mentor, or pastor. Express what you’re experiencing and what emotions are being brought to the surface. Ask them to pray with you and seek godly wisdom. 

Pray: Dear Lord, help me to walk by faith, to live by faith, to pray by faith, and to trust all that is written in Your Word. I pray I will surrender my own abilities and rest entirely on You and Your sufficient grace in all I say and do. Amen.