By Faith, Not Sight

2 Corinthians 5:7 Message
It’s what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.

While standing, close your eyes, lift one foot off the floor and try to balance on the one foot still on the ground. If you’re like me, you end up looking like Elaine from Seinfeld when she does her wacky dance, as you try and maintain your balance.

Proprioceptors are sensors in the body that are crucial to help maintain balance and equilibrium. These sensors usually require the reinforcement of visual cues to function properly, thus explaining why it can be so difficult to maintain your balance with one foot off the ground.

Scientists study how to relearn basic functions after brain injuries to help better understand the role proprioceptors play in the process. Those who are able to turn off their proprioceptors learn and relearn new tasks quicker than those who can’t.

Movement's Sixth Sense

As followers of Christ, God has asked us to walk in faith, or trust. Circumstances aren’t always as they seem, because God asks us to cultivate an eternal perspective. Difficulties may cause us problems, but these same challenges can birth perseverance and hope if we’ll let them.

Our vision, the way God sees us, doesn’t always add up to what our bodies tell us. Thus we can seem terribly off balance at times. We often ask why bad things happen to good people. We ask God to give us an easier time here on earth. All the while He says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Scripture is full of times that Jesus chastens us to rely on our beliefs and not our human balance. Think of his appearance to Thomas after the Resurrection:

John 20:27-29
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."

Or about his appearance to the discouraged followers along the Emmaus road:

Luke 24:25:25-26,32
Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory…They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.