Not by sight

By Bishop L. Jonathan Holston

“But now, says the Lord—the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you. I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3 (CEB)

Followers of Christ are often called to walk by faith and not by sight as we live in the in-between times modeled through Scripture.

To walk by faith, not by sight, requires you to go to places God will reveal to you even if they are not familiar and to cling to the dreams God has planted in your heart. God’s promise is our assurance! You must have a strong determination to follow God’s plan regardless of what life throws at you and have the courage to stand up for the hurting, broken and downtrodden. You may even face death yourself for the good of others, and as the classic song reminds us, you may have to play the part of the fool sometimes. Remember, our joyful obedience to Jesus brings glory to God.

We know that the world is still an imperfect place, and sometimes the road to reconciliation seems to grow ever longer. We have not yet arrived at the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. so aptly described over 50 years ago, “that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

As people of faith who profess to love and trust the Lord our God, we walk by faith toward this future.

In fact, our call is not to wait for perfect conditions before taking the next step in faith. The call is to press on no matter the obstacles, no matter the challenges. I urge you, no matter the circumstances, to look for the opportunities. For what you seek, often you will find.

It has been said that “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Each day we are called to make the decision to view life through the lens of possibilities instead of barriers.

When you find an opportunity, take that step forward in faith, even if the destination is not yet clear. One faithful step at a time, the path will be revealed, but you have to keep moving forward to find out what is next. Remember, the life of faith is more than a moment; it is a movement!

As we embark on the month of February, designated as Black History Month, claim a posture of purpose, recognizing that many have gone before us, walking by faith to pave the way toward a more just and equitable world.

So, get out of your comfort zone. Practice listening to and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit, as well as following the truth of God’s Word. Make the decision to focus on the possibilities instead of the problems, and in the process, you will be walking by faith toward God’s promises.