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 like 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 made 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 prayer 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 may be 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?

What About You?

1. Do you feel like giving up?

2. Are you willing to let your faith keep pushing you forward?

From God's Garden Tools by Gina Burns