Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NASB)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
As we wrap up this week’s reflections on faith, we have two Scriptures that point to what it means to live a life rooted in trust and dependence on God, both epistles from the Apostle Paul.
In 2 Corinthians 5:7 we read, “for we walk by faith, not by sight”. Paul reminds us that our journey with Christ is not dictated by what we see, feel, or understand through our own perception or worldly logic. We shouldn’t just pull verse 7 out from the richness of the text it’s enveloped in though. This helps to justify why our faith is so important.
As you see in verses 6 and 8, Paul was reminding the church in Corinth that they needed to keep their focus on the hope of eternal life with our Lord. The temporary struggles of this life (“at home in the body”) are minute compared to the eternal glory (“at home with the Lord”) that awaits us. To “walk by faith” is to trust in the character, promises, and guidance of God – even when circumstances are uncertain or even painful. Faith is our spiritual compass, leading us beyond the visible and into the unseen reality of God’s kingdom.
But where does this faith come from? Ephesians 2:8-9 answer this clearly: faith is not something we conjure up or earn through effort. It’s a gift that is freely given by God by His grace. We’re not saved by how strong our faith is or how perfectly we live it out. We’re saved because of God’s mercy and love. This keeps us humble and grounded, reminding us that our faith story begins and ends with God’s action on our behalf.
Together, these verses from Paul’s letters highlight both the daily practice of faith and its divine origin. We’re called to walk in faith, step-by-step, trusting in what God is doing, even when we can’t see the full picture. At the same time, we rest in the truth that our ability to believe and continue on this journey is a result of God’s gracious work in our lives.
Faith is a gift we receive, a path we walk (really a lifelong journey we take), and a relationship we nurture with a God who is faithful, even when we struggle to be. Our journey of faith is not about having all the answers or never doubting it’s about continuing to walk one step at a time, trusting the One who walks with us.