Walking by Faith and Not by Sight: Trusting God When Life Does Not Make Sense

By Christian Martin

Have you ever asked God why bad things happen to good people? It is okay to seek God for answers. God knows your circumstances and the issues that concern you, and He has a plan for your life.

Walk through the process of developing a listening ear to hear what God is saying about your life. As you hear the voice of God, you will learn to trust Him. Your ability to trust God weighs heavily on your understanding of Gods love for you.

Learn how God can use the broken pieces of your life to create a mosaic. Embrace the process of walking by faith to your expected end.

Walk by faith into the plan and promises of God.

Find comfort in the word of God.

Experience restoration through the power of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449745042

Christian Martin

n/a

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

chapter 1

chapter 2

chapter 3

chapter 4

chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Endnotes

Biography of Christian Martin

Acknowledgments

The title of the book is credited to my mentor and friend, Michele Aikens. She was inspired by God to give me the title Walking by Faith and Not by Sight: Trusting God when Life Does Not Make Sense as my final writing assignment for ministry training. Thank you for acknowledging and validating my assignment.

I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to receive ministry training under the great leadership of my father in the ministry, Apostle H. Daniel Wilson, and Pastor Beverly L. Wilson. Thank you for training me to be an ambassador for the kingdom of God.

A special thank you to my family and friends who continue to support me, even when you don’t understand the direction that God is taking me. Thank you for walking by faith with me. You enrich the quality of my life.

Mommy, thank you for encouraging me to spread my wings. You make me feel like there are no limits; I can do as much as I want to do and go as far as I want to go. Thank you for naming me Christian and for your sacrifice of giving me to God.

Dad, thank you for believing in me and supporting all of my endeavors.

I have the best grandmothers in the world! The love, support, and prayers of my grandmothers encourage me.

Aunt Alice, thank you for starting me on this journey of walking by faith. You taught me how to serve God faithfully in tithing, prayer, and studying the Word of God.

To my great son, Kevin, you are my first ministry. It is an awesome assignment to be your first mentor in business and ministry. Thank you for taking this journey of faith with me. May you glean from these experiences of faith great wisdom and insight into the power of God. Mommy loves you!

Introduction

Everyone will experience seasons of affliction—the grief of adversity, sickness, catastrophe, tragedy, or loss. When life cannot be summed up in practical intelligence, when we cannot make sense of our circumstance, we must walk by faith. To walk by faith is to move at a moderate (consistent and temperate) pace and conduct ourselves in a manner that coincides with what we believe, with the assurance (the confirmation) of the things that we hope for—perceiving them as real fact. We must perceive as real fact what is not yet revealed to our senses (what we cannot see), and we must not conduct ourselves according to our range of vision, because our vision is limited.¹

Vision refers to one’s ability to see; one’s range of foresight; one’s ability to believe. We must believe the promises of God. You must be a visionary! There will be times in your life when you will not understand your circumstances. You might find yourself baffled by the state of your affairs. During these times, you will have to rely on the vision of God.

The prophet Habakkuk wrestled with God on behalf of his people because he did not understand why God allowed wickedness to surround them. The Israelites were being overtaken by their enemy, the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were powerful and violent. God allowed them to take land that did not belong to them. God raised up a heathen nation for the purpose of punishing his own people. Life did not make sense. The chosen people of God were being destroyed by wickedness—with God’s permission. Habakkuk questioned God—how long would he sit back and do nothing while his people suffered? They had become exhausted, depressed, and disappointed. God’s response to the prophet was this: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry… the just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:2-4 KJV, emphasis added). God instructed the prophet Habakkuk to write the revelation—the vision. Your ability to see the vision of God during times of confusion, uncertainty, and chaos is paramount in your walk of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please [God] (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).

You must know that God knows your circumstances. He knows all of the situations that surround you and concern you. God is omniscient; he knows everything. God allowed your circumstances and he has made an appointment for your deliverance, a set time. The vision that God has given you shall speak and not lie.

I can recall a time when my life did not make