What it means to Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

In church and throughout scripture, we are reminded to walk by faith and not by sight as Christians. Yet living this out is not always easy. I myself struggle with this, as someone who likes to see things with my own eyes- being a visual person. Still, I have learned that there is power and strength found in believing without seeing.

There are moments when I find myself doubting, questioning whether God is really there, or whether he hears me when I speak to Him. But even in those moments, I am reminded of this truth: God hears everything, and He is most definitely present.

One analogy I always return to when doubt creeps in, is the wind. We feel it when it blows, yet we cannot see it. God, is spirit. He is not like man with flesh and bones. While we can not see him, his presence is real and powerful.

Walking by faith requires trusting what we cannot physically see, and that kind of trust may not always come naturally for some. It must be built, nurtured, and continually strengthened.

Faith in the storm

In Matthew 14:28-33, Peter steps out of the boat and walks toward Jesus on water. Even though Jesus was right in front of him, Peter began to doubt and sink.

Whenever I read this passage, I often smile to myself. Peter had the extraordinary experience of seeing Christ in the flesh, yet he still doubted. As believers, it can be easy for us to doubt God and His power in our own lives, just as Peter did.

Storms will rise from time to time. Life will challenge our faith. But just as Jesus reached out his hand to Peter, He is always willing to reach out to those who call upon Him. Trusting God can be tough when our circumstances suggest otherwise, but we should not allow what we see to have greater authority than God's power. Trusting God with our circumstances and lives is better.

Blessed Are Those Who Believe

Peter was not the only one who struggled with doubt. Thomas, another disciple of Jesus, questioned Jesus' resurrection. In John 20:29, Jesus responds, saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This verse continually reminds me of the need to place my trust in God—especially when I begin to doubt myself or question His ability to work in my life. Jesus’ presence is all around us, if only we would believe and make room for Him by spending time in His presence. Our faith is not built by sight, but by believing and trusting in the unseen.

Feeding the Spirit, not the flesh

One lesson I continue to remind myself of on this journey, is that our faith in God must be stronger than our faith in our flesh. This is far easier said than done. The demands of our daily life can be overwhelming, but our spirit man also needs to be nurtured.

It is not our flesh that enters the kingdom of heaven, but our spirit. That is why it is so important to feed our spirit through God's word, prayer, and faith. This journey is not easy- I wrestle with walking by faith too at times. We all do. But God has us. This is how we build our faith in him.

Faith grows when we spend time in His presence: reading His word, meditating on it, and speaking with Him daily.

Faith in God's promises

I am especially drawn to Sarah’s story. Despite her age and barrenness, she was told by an angel of the Lord that she would conceive a child. At first, she doubted God’s ability to do the impossible—but eventually, she believed.

Sarah embraced God’s promise, and trusted Him to move in her life. When her son Isaac was born, she laughed—not out of doubt, but out of joy. God had turned an impossible situation into a testimony of faith. Her story reminds me that God cannot be limited. He is a God of endless possibilities, and walking with Him—despite not seeing Him, will always be worth it.

A Final Encouragement

Walking by faith and not by sight is challenging, but choosing God daily requires an even greater strength. His presence is all around us—let us welcome Him in.

So come on friends, don't be discouraged. Let's walk by faith together!

'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen' -Hebrews 11:1