Sightless Faith

Sightless Faith (Written by guest writer David Peterson)

Jesus reappeared to His disciples in the Upper Room, where they were hiding. Including Thomas, they were all together eight days after His resurrection. John 20:29 records Jesus telling Thomas that those who believe without seeing are blessed. This verse emphasizes the value of faith over physical evidence:

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

St. Augustine once wrote, “Faith is believing what we do not see, and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.” Augustine’s quote speaks to the transformative power and potential of faith in our lives. It underscores the nature of faith as an act of trust—often in the unseen or unknown.

This truth aligns perfectly with what the author of Hebrews 11:1 declared:

“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s promises even when they are not visible. Faith, therefore, is not passive belief but an active confidence in God’s character and word—it is foundational to the Christian life.

Hymns about faith often highlight trusting God without requiring visible proof. A notable example is “Without Seeing You” by David Haas, which reflects on the assurance of faith and belief in God’s promises, as expressed in Hebrews 11. The chorus of this hymn reads:

Without seeing You, we love You;

Without touching You, we embrace;

Without knowing You, we follow;

Without seeing You, we believe—

Seeing You, we believe.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, we come before You today seeking to strengthen our faith. Remind us that faith is believing in what we hope for and being assured of what we do not see. Grant us the courage to walk by faith, not by feelings, and to surrender our need for understanding. Amen.