English 
繁體中文 
简体中文 
Stepping Up in Faith: Trusting God’s Plan Beyond What We Can See
During the Fall Evangelical Services and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC) in September 2024, I had the privilege of listening to Pastor Chen deliver a message that truly touched my heart. His sermon was centered around the profound truth: “Walk by Faith, Not by Sight.” As I sat there, I couldn’t help but reflect deeply on the message and how it spoke to me personally.
Pastor Chen shared three powerful examples from Scripture, each one illustrating what it truly means to walk by faith. The first was the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). It’s such a familiar story, yet it never fails to inspire me. Here’s this young shepherd boy, David, standing up against a giant warrior, Goliath. David wasn’t relying on his physical strength or the sight of the daunting enemy in front of him—he relied on his faith in God. His victory was proof that faith can conquer what seems impossible. As Pastor Chen reminded us, David didn’t focus on the size of his problem but on the greatness of his God.
The second story was about the Israelites, who didn’t trust the good report from Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13-14). Instead of walking by faith and entering the Promised Land, they allowed their fear to guide them. As a result, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before finally entering the land God had promised them. This example struck a chord with me, reminding me that when I doubt God’s promises, I can find myself stuck in a wilderness of uncertainty. But when I trust Him, even when I can’t see the way forward, He leads me to His promises.
Pastor Chen also spoke about Noah and the ark (Genesis 6-7). Noah’s story is one that I think we often take for granted. Imagine building a massive ark, preparing for a flood that no one else believed was coming! Yet, Noah obeyed God’s command. He didn’t see rain. He didn’t have any physical evidence that a flood was coming. But he trusted God’s word, and because of his faith, Noah and his family were saved. This, to me, is the essence of walking by faith.
What causes us to see things differently? The carnal man sees things visually that can benefit or threaten him. The spiritual man sees things in ways that will show God’s glory. Such vision and wisdom come from our experience with God which in turn depends on our faith in Him. So, let’s discard our carnal self and put on the new, spiritual self. We need to listen, speak and walk with faith.
After the ESSC, I spent some time reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This verse reminds me that as believers, we’re called to trust in God’s promises, even when we can’t see the outcome. Hebrews 11:1 says it perfectly: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is about trusting in the unseen—knowing that God is working behind the scenes, even when our circumstances seem uncertain.
From Pastor Chen’s sermon and my own reflections, I realize that I, too, need to make decisions based on faith, not sight. When challenges come, I want to rely on God’s wisdom and guidance, not my limited perspective. As Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” I’m trusting that God will guide my steps and strengthen my faith.
If you’d like to dive deeper into this powerful message, I encourage you to watch the sermon here: Watch Sermon. It might just change your life, as it has mine.
At True Jesus Church, we are a family that walks by faith together. Join us for worship, fellowship, and spiritual renewal. We look forward to walking this journey of faith with you!
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
Google Maps
In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org