Walking Without Sight
By Carolyn Dale Newell
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
Iva came to a stop, but I didn’t know why. I stretched out my hand in front of me. I didn’t have to reach far before I discovered the cold, metal pole. Another step or two and my face would have painfully made contact with it. “Good job, Iva!” I praised smiling big, while Iva gobbled up her treat.
We left Walmart and headed across the parking lot to the strip mall. Parking lots are not the best place for blind people to navigate. We crossed from the sidewalk to a grassy area surrounded with curbing. From there, we could cross another short distance to our desired destination.
I carefully listened for cars. Of course, you never get a silent moment in a busy parking area.
“Iva, forward.” I commanded, but Iva refused to budge. Just then, I heard a car slowly pass us. Iva practiced intelligent disobedience by refusing to obey me because of the oncoming vehicle. Guide dogs are trained to disobey our commands if they see potential danger we cannot see.
Walking without sight is walking by faith. Whether I walk with my white cane or Iva, I trust God for my next step. I trust Iva not to walk me into something. I don’t tiptoe through Walmart, hand extended, waiting to bump into something. A cloud of fear doesn’t follow me wondering where my foot will land. I can’t see my next step, but I take it in faith, full steam ahead.
Many Christians think they walk by faith, but they really walk by sight. Walking by faith gives the money to the needy without knowing how they will manage. Walking by sight waits to see if God will provide before they give. Walking by faith believes God will heal. Walking by sight says God can heal. Do you see the difference?
Walking by faith proceeds with God’s calling on someone’s life, trusting God to provide. Walking by sight waits to see how it’s going to work first.
My visual impairment has taught me valuable faith lessons. Understanding what it means to physically walk by faith helped me spiritually walk by faith.
Faith is complete unhindered and uninhibited trust in God. It is an action, not only something you believe. Faith walks as well as talks. Faith steps out, not knowing the next step, but knowing God knows.
Friend, are you walking by faith, or are you walking by sight? Don’t be too hard on yourself if you honestly admit you have depended on sight more than faith. Even the twelve apostles were part of the “O ye of little faith” group. Begin to lean on faith more without depending on sight at all.
Now that you know the difference, commit to trust God. Nothing will be impossible when you put feet behind your faith.
Copyright 2018 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 