“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Abraham is often referred to as the father of faith. God told him to leave his home, his land, and everything familiar, and go to a place he had never seen. There were no maps, no guarantees, no clear plan—just a promise from God.
In Hebrew, the word emunah means more than just believing something in your mind. It means faithfulness, steadfast trust, and walking forward even when you cannot see the whole picture. Abraham embodied this. He trusted God enough to take one step at a time, believing that God would guide him.
His journey shows us that walking in faith is rarely about having all the answers—it is about trusting the One who leads the way. Emunah implies a profound sense of trust and confidence in God or in something greater, characterized by a deep and unwavering commitment to that faith.
Story from History:
Corrie Ten Boom was an ordinary woman living in Haarlem, Netherlands, during World War II. She worked as a watchmaker with her father, Casper, and her sister, Betsie. Their family was deeply rooted in faith and hospitality—their home was always open to neighbors, travelers, and anyone in need.
When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940, the Ten Boom family could not ignore the growing persecution of the Jewish people. Out of simple obedience to God, they made a dangerous choice: their home became a hiding place. They built a secret room behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom where Jewish men, women, and children could hide during Nazi raids. Over time, they saved hundreds of lives.
This act of emunah—faith in action—was not safe. The family knew discovery meant imprisonment or death. Yet Corrie often said, “The safest place is in the center of God’s will.”
In 1944, the Ten Boom family was betrayed. The Gestapo raided their home, arresting Corrie, Betsie, and their father. The secret room went undiscovered that day, and those hiding inside were later rescued. But Corrie’s father, then 84 years old, died just days after his arrest. Corrie and Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany.
Life in the camp was brutal—disease, starvation, overcrowding, and cruelty surrounded them. Yet Corrie and her sister Betsie walked by faith (emunah) every day. Somehow, they managed to smuggle in a small Bible. In the darkness of the barracks, they read aloud by dim light, offering comfort and hope to the women around them. The message of God’s love spread among prisoners, even in that place of death.
Corrie always referred to her survival in the death camps as “God’s miracle.” After the war, she began traveling the world, sharing her testimony of God’s grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness.
The ultimate test of faith came years later, when she was speaking at a church in Germany. After her message, one of the former Ravensbrück guards—the very men who had abused prisoners—approached her.
He told Corrie he had since become a Christian and knew God had forgiven him, but he wanted to ask her forgiveness as well. Corrie froze. Memories of pain and humiliation came rushing back. Forgiveness felt impossible. But in that moment, she prayed silently, “Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your strength.” By faith—(emunah)—she lifted her hand, took his hand in hers, and felt the love of Christ flood her heart. She later wrote, “For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then.”
Walking in faith often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. It means trusting in God’s timing and His provision, even when you cannot see the outcome. Just as Abraham set out for a land he did not know, or as Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water, faith calls us to action. It asks us to move forward with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
Take practical steps today to put your faith into action. This might mean dedicating more time to prayer, seeking God’s direction in His Word, or making a decision that aligns with His will, even if it feels uncertain. As you do so, remember that faith is a journey. It grows through daily choices and through trusting God in both the small and significant moments of life.
As you continue to walk in faith, be encouraged by the examples of those who have gone before you. Their stories remind us that God is faithful and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Your faith, too, will be a testimony to others, reflecting the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Prayer:
Lord, I desire to walk by faith, trusting in Your promises and Your plan for my life. Help me to let go of doubt and fear and to rely fully on Your guidance. Strengthen my faith, and give me the courage to act on it in my daily life. Thank You for being faithful to Your promises and for guiding me every step of the way. May my life be a testimony of faith in Your goodness, and may I always remember that You are with me, even in the moments when I cannot see the way forward. I trust in You, Lord, and I ask that You lead me in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Amen.
Verses to Meditate On:
- Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV)
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” - James 1:6 (NKJV)
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” - Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'” - Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
