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Trusting the Unseen
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16–18
Experienced pilots say one of the most difficult and dangerous conditions for flying is being completely surrounded by fog or clouds. With no visual points of reference, it is easy to become disoriented. Pilots report not being able to tell if they are climbing or falling, or even flying upside down. Investigators believe that this kind of confusion was responsible for the plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife in 1999. Kennedy was only rated for VFR—visual flight rules—as a pilot. But the plane was caught in fog, and crashed, killing all those on board.
It is very difficult for us to move forward when we cannot see the path clearly. But God calls us to live by faith in what we cannot see. The Bible and church history are filled with examples of people who simply took God at His word, despite not having any tangible indication that what He promised was even possible. No one who has trusted what God said has ever been let down.
We sometimes think that we would trust God more if He showed us part of His plan, or if we could figure out for ourselves how things might work out. But God’s plan does not work that way. We have the instruments of the Bible to follow, and when we cannot see anything else and do not know which way to go, we must simply follow His Word.
2 Corinthians 4:16–18
Experienced pilots say one of the most difficult and dangerous conditions for flying is being completely surrounded by fog or clouds. With no visual points of reference, it is easy to become disoriented. Pilots report not being able to tell if they are climbing or falling, or even flying upside down. Investigators believe that this kind of confusion was responsible for the plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife in 1999. Kennedy was only rated for VFR—visual flight rules—as a pilot. But the plane was caught in fog, and crashed, killing all those on board.
It is very difficult for us to move forward when we cannot see the path clearly. But God calls us to live by faith in what we cannot see. The Bible and church history are filled with examples of people who simply took God at His word, despite not having any tangible indication that what He promised was even possible. No one who has trusted what God said has ever been let down.
We sometimes think that we would trust God more if He showed us part of His plan, or if we could figure out for ourselves how things might work out. But God’s plan does not work that way. We have the instruments of the Bible to follow, and when we cannot see anything else and do not know which way to go, we must simply follow His Word.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Just because we cannot see God at work does not mean that He is not actively involved in our lives.
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