Faith for the Journey

 Text: Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Friend, the journey of faith begins the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is not the end of the road—it is the beginning of a lifelong journey. Some folks seem to think that once they get saved, every problem disappears, every burden is lifted, and every road becomes smooth. But if you've walked with the Lord for any length of time, you know that's not how it works.

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battlefield. We face spiritual, physical, financial, family, and sometimes challenges that seem too heavy to carry. Yet through it all, God calls us to walk by faith.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)

Notice he said we walk by faith. Faith is not standing still. Faith is taking another step when you cannot see around the next bend in the road.

Taking Our Eyes Off Jesus

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is taking our eyes off the Lord.

Remember Peter when Jesus came walking on the water?

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come." (Matthew 14:28-29 KJV)

As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water. But the moment he looked at the wind and waves, fear took over.

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30 KJV)

Peter did not sink because Jesus failed him. Peter sank because he shifted his focus from the Savior to the storm.

Many believers are doing the same thing today. They are watching the news more than they are reading their Bible. They are studying the storm instead of looking to the Savior. They know more about the problems of the world than the promises of God.

Faith falters when we take our eyes off Jesus.

The Tractor Illustration

I remember talking with a farmer who told me that when plowing a field, you don't stare at the ground right in front of the tractor. If you do, your rows will be crooked. Instead, you pick a point at the far end of the field and keep your eyes fixed on it.

That's good advice for the Christian life.

If you keep looking at every rock, every rut, every weed, and every obstacle, you'll wander all over the place. But if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, He'll guide your path.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)

The Problem with Our Plans

Most of us like to be in control.

We make our plans. We set our goals. We decide how things ought to happen. Then, when God takes us in a different direction, we become frustrated.

The truth is, many of our greatest disappointments come from trying to write God's script for our lives.

The Bible says:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)

Sometimes God allows us to reach the end of ourselves so we can finally discover the beginning of His strength.

The Flat Tire Illustration

Years ago, a man was driving down a country road when he got a flat tire. He was angry and frustrated. He had places to go and things to do.

As he struggled beside the road, another driver stopped to help him. During their conversation, the man learned about Christ and eventually gave his life to the Lord.

Years later, he said, "The best thing that ever happened to me was that flat tire."

At the time, it looked like a problem.

In God's hands, it became a blessing.

Many of us are fighting against the very circumstances God is using to draw us closer to Him.

Surrender Brings Growth

Faith begins to grow when we realize we cannot control our own lives.

The Christian life was never intended to be lived in our own strength.

Jesus said:

"For without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5 KJV)

Notice, he didn't say we could do a little without Him. He said we could do nothing.

Real faith grows when we surrender.

Not my will, but Thy will.

Not my plans, but Thy plans.

Not my direction, but Thy direction.

When we stop fighting God and start trusting God, our faith begins to mature.

The Child and Father Illustration

A small child was walking with his father through a dark field one night.

The little boy said, "Daddy, I can't see the path."

His father replied, "Son, can you see me?"

The boy answered, "Yes."

The father smiled and said, "Then that's enough."

Friend, there are times when we cannot see the path ahead. We don't know what tomorrow holds. We don't understand why certain things happen.

But faith does not require us to see the whole road.

Faith requires us to trust the One who does.

Conclusion

Perhaps today you are facing a storm.

Maybe your health is failing.

Maybe your finances are stretched thin.

Maybe your family is burdened.

Maybe you are carrying a weight nobody else knows about.

Don't focus on the storm.

Don't focus on the waves.

Don't focus on what you cannot control.

Look unto Jesus.

The same Savior who called Peter out of the boat is calling you to trust Him today.

The same Lord who carried Israel through the wilderness can carry you.

The same God who parted the Red Sea can make a way where there seems to be no way.

Faith is not believing that nothing bad will happen.

Faith is believing that God will be faithful no matter what happens.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Keep walking.

Keep trusting.

And when your strength runs out, you'll discover that His strength never does.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10 KJV)

Amen.