Faith Beyond Vision: Trusting The Unseen

Faith is a topic that has been explored by many, from pastors to philosophers. It is often associated with religion, such as the story of Bartimaeus and Jesus in the New Testament, where Jesus heals a blind man and gives him sight. This story is used as an analogy for having faith even when faced with obstacles and uncertainty, trusting in a higher power, and taking action even when the future seems opaque. Faith can be seen as visualizing a positive future and having the confidence to pursue it, even if it seems impossible. It is about believing in something greater than ourselves and finding meaning in life's challenges. Faith is not just an intellectual exercise but is deeply connected to our emotions and how we perceive and interact with the world. It can give us resilience and help us navigate through life's troubles, providing a sense of hope and purpose.

Faith is believing what you can't see

Faith is not just a psych-up or a matter of turning our brains off and believing what we know isn't true. It is not a matter of being unintelligent, sheltered, or aloof. Instead, walking by faith makes a person perceptive, resilient, and engaged. It is about seeing reality as it is and having an eternal perspective.

The Bible says that we see through a glass darkly, but sometimes, we don't see through the glass at all; all we see is darkness. In these moments, we can feel a sense of absolute helplessness. We may not have the resources necessary to navigate through life's challenges. We may feel scared and unsure of how to move forward.

However, faith can turn dreams into reality. It can make our imagination into something tangible. It is about reaching out and moving forward, even when we cannot see the path clearly.

The story of Bartimaeus in the New Testament is a powerful example of having faith when you can't see. Bartimaeus was a blind man who cried out to Jesus, recognizing his power and worshipping him. Despite not being able to see, Bartimaeus had faith and believed in Jesus's ability to heal him. And Jesus did heal him, giving him his sight back.

So, when you are facing challenges and feeling lost, remember to have faith. Believe in what you can't see, and trust that God is with you, even if you can't always sense His presence. Keep an eternal perspective and know that your faith can move mountains.

Faith turns dreams into reality

Faith is an essential part of the Christian life. It is the lens through which followers of Jesus view the world, and it is what gives them hope and resilience in the face of adversity. But what does it mean to "have faith when you can't see"?

The Bible says that now we "see through a glass darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV). There are times when we are faced with obstacles and challenges that seem insurmountable, and we can't see a way forward. In these moments, faith is what helps us to persevere and trust in God's plan, even when we can't see the full picture.

The story of Bartimaeus in the New Testament is a powerful illustration of this. Bartimaeus was a blind man sitting by the road in Jericho when Jesus passed by. Despite not being able to see, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus for healing, and his faith was rewarded with sight. This story teaches us that even in our darkest moments, when we feel helpless and lost, we can call out to Jesus and have faith that he will answer.

Faith is about believing in something even when we can't see it with our physical eyes. It is about visualizing a future that doesn't yet exist and trusting that it can become a reality. As Pastor Rick Warren says, "Every great achievement started when someone first believed it was possible. Faith turns dreams into realities." This is not just a blind leap of faith but a confident step forward, knowing that God is with us and wants the best for us.

When we walk by faith, we are not ignoring reality or turning our brains off. Instead, we are choosing to see the world from a heavenly perspective, fixing our eyes on what is eternal rather than temporary. This doesn't mean we are sheltered from pain or trouble but that we face difficulties with resilience, knowing that God will use these challenges for our growth and transformation.

So, how can we have faith when we can't see? Here are some practical steps:

• Acknowledge the challenges and obstacles you are facing. Be honest with God and yourself about your struggles, whether it's sorrow, doubt, shame, or discouragement.
• Look for God in the midst of your struggles. Trust in his promise to always be with you, even when you can't sense his presence. Remember that he often shows up in unexpected ways.
• Accept God's unconditional love and forgiveness. He knows your weaknesses and failures, yet he loves and accepts you completely. Confess your sins and turn away from them, knowing that he has forgiven you.
• Keep going and don't give up. Even when you feel discouraged, choose to live faithfully and serve others. Have faith that God will give you the breakthrough you need.
• Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Nourish your body, mind, and spirit, and make time for rest, relaxation, and fun.
• Devote yourself wholeheartedly to Jesus. Make your relationship with him your top priority, and trust that he will work powerfully in your life.

By following these steps and fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can have faith even when we can't see, knowing that he will guide us and turn our dreams into reality.

Faith is seeing the future in advance

Faith is a powerful thing. It is the ability to see the future in advance and to believe in what you cannot see. It is having the conviction that something is real, even without visual evidence.

Faith is a central tenet of Christianity, and the Bible offers many lessons on how to have faith when you cannot see. One such story is that of Bartimaeus, a blind man who was sitting by the road begging as Jesus passed by. Despite not being able to see, Bartimaeus had faith and cried out to Jesus, recognising him as the Messiah. Jesus healed Bartimaeus, giving him his sight, and Bartimaeus followed him, glorifying God. This story demonstrates that even in the darkest moments when we cannot see the way forward, we can have faith and call out to Jesus.

Another interpretation of this concept is that having faith means seeing reality as it truly is. It is about perceiving people from heaven's perspective and having an eternal perspective. This does not mean ignoring the world around you or being unintelligent; instead, it is about being perceptive, resilient, and engaged. It is about fixing your eyes on what is eternal and having the confidence to navigate through life's challenges.

Faith is also about believing in your dreams and visualising a future that others may not be able to see. It is about taking action and moving towards your goals with conviction. Pastor Rick Warren shared his dream of building a church on 50 acres of land, which seemed impossible at the time. However, through faith and perseverance, he was able to turn his dream into a reality.

In conclusion, having faith when you cannot see is about believing in something greater than yourself, whether it be God, a higher power, or your dreams. It is about seeing the future through a different lens and having the courage to take action. Faith can give us hope, strength, and resilience to navigate life's challenges and create a future that may not yet be visible.

Faith is based on serious-minded confidence

Faith is often depicted as believing in something without evidence, as in "seeing is believing". However, the Bible offers a different perspective: "believing is seeing". Faith is about visualizing a future that doesn't exist in the present and turning dreams into reality. It is about having serious-minded confidence in what we hope for and knowing that something is real, even if we cannot see it.

The story of Bartimaeus in the New Testament exemplifies this idea of having faith even when we cannot see. Bartimaeus, a blind man, was sitting by the road begging when Jesus approached Jericho. Despite not being able to see, Bartimaeus sensed a large crowd and, upon learning that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out for mercy. Jesus stopped and granted Bartimaeus his sight, demonstrating that faith can lead to breakthroughs and that Jesus has time for people.

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the apostle Paul writes, "We live by faith, not by sight," encouraging followers of Jesus to walk by faith and not by sight. This does not mean ignoring reality or turning a blind eye to what is in front of us. Instead, it is about perceiving reality as it is and gaining an eternal perspective. Walking by faith makes us more resilient and engaged with the world, helping us navigate through difficulties and troubles.

To walk by faith is to have serious-minded confidence, knowing that God is with us and will bring good purposes out of our suffering. It is about trusting in God's promises and recognizing that He can be found in both the ordinary and dramatic moments of our lives. By accepting God's unconditional love and forgiveness, we can break free from shame and move forward with courage and resilience, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties.

In summary, having faith even when we can't see involves a serious-minded confidence in God's presence, promises, and power. It is about visualizing a future filled with hope and trusting that God will guide us through any obstacles we may encounter.

Faith is about seeing people from heaven's perspective

The story of Bartimaeus in the New Testament is a powerful example of this. As Jesus travelled towards Jerusalem, he came across a blind man, Bartimaeus, begging by the roadside. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, recognizing him as the Son of David and the Messiah, and Jesus healed him, giving him his sight. This story illustrates that even in our darkest moments, when we cannot see a way forward, we can call out to Jesus, and he will answer.

Having faith means believing in what we cannot see. It is about visualizing a future that is not yet present and turning dreams into reality. It is about fixing our eyes on what is eternal and seeing people from an eternal perspective.

Walking by faith does not mean ignoring reality or turning off our brains. Instead, it is about being perceptive, resilient, and engaged. It is about facing difficulties with resilience, knowing that God will use tough times to grow Christlikeness in us. It is about being confident in God's promises and trusting that he will guide us through life's challenges.

When we walk by faith, we see people as they truly are – with eternal significance. We become more engaged with the world and treat people as the most important earthly matter. We see beyond the physical and recognize the spiritual reality that surrounds us.

Faith is about seeing with heaven's eyes, believing in the unseen, and trusting in God's plan, even when we cannot fully understand it.

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