Walk By Faith Not By Sight

In high school, I tried out for the basketball team without any experience. I made the junior varsity team but not varsity as I had hoped. What else did I really expect! So, after one year of playing, learning, and getting some experience I felt like the next year I could make the varsity team if I practiced continually.

So, the following summer I asked our neighbors who had a basketball hoop in their driveway if I could practice shooting every day. They agreed, and I practiced every day. I would try all the shots I had seen and just kept at it continually every day. I knew I wanted to make the team, and either I gave up and quit, or I pressed in and stayed focused on my goal.

The following season came, and I did make the varsity team in my junior and senior year. I lettered in basketball and received a scholarship to a local college for a year. I’m not telling you this story to brag, but to tell you that we can’t give up. Believe me when I say the first year I played I was not very good. I’m not even sure why I made the team. With discipline and a lot of prayers though, I improved.

Sometimes we get discouraged when we think things are not happening as we want or as fast as we desire them too. We, at those times, just want to give up.

In Luke 5:1-9 we read a story about a man named Simon who was a fisherman. Jesus was in Simon’s boat one day ministering. After Jesus was finished teaching He told Simon to, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

At this point Simon maybe is thinking, “I’m a professional fisherman and we haven’t caught anything all night. I’m tired, exhausted and now you want me to go fishing again – this is crazy.” He was honest in what he said to Jesus, but he did obey even when it sounded crazy and illogical. When he did cast down his nets, there were so many fish that the nets began to break. They had to signal for help to their partners in another boat because their boat was starting to sink from all the fish.

Talk about a good harvest!

A lot of times in life we think, “That’s it, I’m done.” “I can't do this anymore and nothing is ever going to change.” In those moments we need to really press in and believe God is making a way. That is what you call faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:6 say this to us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Sometimes we pray and pray for something and we end up feeling like our prayers are not being answered, much less being heard. I assure you that God hears and answers every request we make.

Psalms 91:15 assures, “He shall call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.”

Isaiah 41:17 tells us, “The poor and needy search for water but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time (God’s Time) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Remember God hears our every request and knows our every need. He is always with us and most importantly, He is for us. God promises our “walking by faith and not by sight” and “doing good” will be rewarded and not over-looked.

Really what other choice do we have? We know and have the promise that He will reward us so why would we ever give up?