Faith Walking

Isaiah 42:16 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB)

2 Corinthians 5:7 gets quoted a lot.  “We walk by faith, not by sight.”  In Christian circles it rolls off the tongue with great regularity.  But I don’t think I understood it – really understood it – till this year.

This year has been good and awful at the same time.  the bad has seemed to go on and on.  My business/ministry is at a standstill.  I’ve had several health bumps in the road.  Relationships that matter have had rocky moments.  I’ve laid down a ministry at God’s direction.  Grief has reared it’s head more than expected.  Property issues have continued to concern me.  It has felt like every part of my life is up in the air like the balls a juggler uses.  However, mine are all still up in the air with no prediction of coming back down.

The good has been very good.  With no work appointments, I’ve had that precious commodity – TIME – to take care of myself physically and deal with the rest.  I’ve had sacred moments with my adult children that I will never forget.  My grandchildren have brought me so much joy.  And the grief ministry I have been able to do is such a blessing – plus – most of it would not have happened if I didn’t have time.

That lengthy explanation brings me to my point.  I am learning to trust – really trust.  The idea of walking by faith and not by sight is my reality.  I think I understand how much deeper it is than it seems as one quickly quotes that verse.  It’s waiting, trusting and all the while seeing nothing.  I’m an Israelite sitting in my tent, waiting for the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to move.

I don’t know the way, but God does.  The plan isn’t clear to me but God has a plan, and it’s good.

Isaiah 42:16 came up in my reading today.  It says, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.”

That verse resonates with me.  This walking by faith without sight – in many ways I’m walking blind.  But the incredible thing about it is, I’m not alone.  God is leading me along unfamiliar paths.  He’s guiding me and giving light here and there.  And I can fully trust that at the right time, He will completely turn the darkness to light and make these rough, hard, and uncertain places smooth.

It’s not that suddenly all will be perfect.  It is, however, that the wilderness I’m in right now, will become a promised land of sorts.  I simply need to keep trusting God while I sit in my tent.

“Do not fear for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”   Isaiah  41:10