We Walk by Faith Not by Sight

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV).

Imagine waking up from a restful sleep and feeling called to take a hike. No problem, you think, I'll stroll around the block and be back in time for breakfast…Wheaties with half a cup of blueberries, slightly-burned toast with a spoonful of sweet strawberry jelly, and black coffee. 

But the Holy Spirit within is stirring, "Make the hike more ambitious!" Okay, better have breakfast before taking the "easy trail" at the local state park. 

You gather your bush hat, sunglasses, and keys. You check the weather report on your smartphone–clear blue sky–and notice an Outside Magazine article link: HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

The coincidence is too apparent. You let out a howl of "No Way!" but the Holy Spirit has made it clear…you are to hike the Appalachian Trail…all 2,193 miles. "How bad can it be?" you ponder. And then you read in the introduction, "More than 3,000 people attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail every year. Only about a quarter of them succeed." 

And then reality hits you in the face like a soaking wet beach towel…you ARE being called to hike the entire Appalachian Trail–alone. 

You start arguing like Jonah did when God told him to go to Nineveh. God understands your reluctance and compromises, "No problem, you can take your dog." 

What! Once again, you argue your case and why you are not qualified to make the trip. I know, I’ve done it myself. God responds once again, "No problem, now you need to do it blindfolded." 

Yes, I’m having fun with this, but we need to take God’s callings with some seriousness. If His call were impossible for you, He wouldn’t ask you to do it. What seems impossible to us is His way of increasing our faith.    

But in the moment, God’s response seemed like the final straw! You start to call the local Mental Health clinic because, obviously, you have lost your mind. And then, the Holy Spirit speaks words of encouragement and reminds you that His people move life mountains every day with a bit of faith (see Matthew 17:20). 

We Walk by Faith, Not By Sight

And then God opens your eyes to the true story of Bill Irwin, the first blind person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with just his dog, Orient, and "another presence in the lead." This presence was his faith in God. In fact, Irwin wrote the following:

"The Trail was a pilgrimage to share God's love with all those whom I met while hiking. The book Blind Courage, is an account of my experiences and shares the plan of salvation with every one who reads it. It is not my book, it is God's book and after you read it you will understand why." Bill Irwin

What is Your Appalachian Trail Hike? 

For some, like Bill Irwin and others, hiking the Appalachian Trail is a literal mountain to climb on their Christ-centered pilgrimage. For others, it is a metaphor. But God calls each one of us to do what others see as impossible. God sets the bar intentionally high so that it is impossible to clear with rational thinking alone. It takes faith, not sight. 

I encourage you to think about the most "insane" thing God may be asking you to do. Is it to write a Christian novel…preach a sermon in the town square…start a homeless shelter…become a missionary in Ecuador…hand out tracts to everyone you meet…hike the Appalachian Trail with your dog? 

The point is, we can say we have faith, but until we get out of our comfort zone, where the bar is raised and the stakes are high, we walk by sight, not by faith. 

Let's step out boldly together in the direction of a new challenge set before us. Let's encourage one another to be led by faith and boldly share the plan of salvation as did Bill Irwin! 

About the Author

Dr. Trace Pirtle is a retired counselor education professor and a fellow pilgrim on the narrow path. He is the author of the forthcoming book Narrow Path Pilgrim: Finding Jesus Christ Beyond the Church Walls, and shares insights for remnant believers and spiritual seekers following The Way of the first-century church.