The Life of Faith (Pt. 4) - Navigating Contrary Physical Realities
Scriptural Anchors
Hebrews 11:1–3
1 Corinthians 2:9–16
This series has emphasized the power of the unseen in the life of faith. What’s visible comes from what’s invisible—and often, God’s reality about us doesn’t match our physical circumstances.
To live victoriously, we must learn to turn spiritual truths into physical results. If we can’t see the invisible, we can’t do the impossible (Mark 9:23). Breakthrough starts with the eyes of faith.
2 Corinthians 4 reminds us that what’s seen is temporary, but what’s unseen is eternal. So we fix our gaze—not glance—on spiritual truth. Though the natural world shouts loudly, faith endures by staying rooted in the unseen.
Necessity of Spiritual Sight
There are consequences when we lack spiritual sight—when all we see and respond to are physical things. Whether we’re celebrating or worrying, the natural world screams loudly and constantly demands our attention.
That’s why it’s critical that we learn to capture what God has already prepared for us. Without spiritual insight, we risk being overwhelmed by what we see and missing what God is doing. Spiritual sight is necessary for:
Understanding your life spiritually
To do the impossible, we must see the invisible—not just through visions, but by our spirit sensing spiritual realities. Just as we use physical senses to navigate the world, we need spiritual senses to understand God’s perspective.
We pray for eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that discern because our lives have a spiritual dimension. Physical circumstances can be misleading—like Joseph during his time in prison—so we must learn to interpret our seasons spiritually.
Understanding spiritual attacks
Spiritual sight also reveals the enemy’s plans—traps, schemes, and attempts to sabotage us. Like Elisha, who saw the enemy's moves from his room, we too can be warned ahead of time.
When we see the enemy's trap, it loses power—just like a trap is useless when the bird sees it. Beyond that, spiritual sight gives us access to hidden knowledge—things we couldn’t know naturally, but need to know to live wisely and walk in victory.
Understanding spiritual provisions
Spiritual sight also helps us know what God has freely given us—the spiritual realities and promises concerning our lives. Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6 shows how seeing spiritually leads to revelation, repentance, and commissioning.
But God also warns that a lack of spiritual sight is a form of judgment. When people can’t see, hear, or discern spiritually, their lives become desolate—their inheritance slips away, and their destiny is wasted. This shows how critical it is for us to keep our spiritual senses alive so we don’t miss what God is doing or lose what He’s given.
Examples for Navigating Contrary Physical Realities
Matthew 14, Peter Walking on Water
When Peter walked on water, he didn’t sink until he shifted his focus to his physical reality—the storm. When he saw the wind—his fear took over, and he began to sink. So like Peter, when we fix our eyes on our challenges instead of Jesus, our fear can hinder our success.
We should also take note that, Peter’s faith encouraged him to do the impossible. However, when he began to drown, he asked Jesus to help him. We should also imitate this response when an act of faith takes an unfavorable turn.
Acts 27, Paul’s Shipwreck
When Paul faced a violent, extended storm at sea. The natural situation was dire—darkness, fear, and no food for days. But Paul stood firm, not on what he saw, but on what God told him.
He declared, “I believe God—it will be exactly as He said.” Even as things got worse, Paul held on. This is what it means to walk by faith: not denying the storm, but believing God’s word above it. Faith is a fight, and we often give up too quickly. But like Paul, we must anchor ourselves in what God has said—because His word never fails.
Exodus, Moses Before Pharaoh
When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, it was a powerful and undeniable moment—he saw miracles and heard God’s voice clearly. But despite that, when he stood before Pharaoh, he was met with rejection, he doubted and questioned God.
This reminds us that even after divine encounters, the pressure of opposition can still shake our faith. Yet, Moses kept returning to God, and over time, he learned to stand firm. Like Moses, we may face resistance even when we're walking in obedience—but we must keep going back to God and hold on to His word until His promise is fulfilled.
When God Has Not Spoken
When God seems silent, our faith often struggles. But scripture is greater than visions and divine encounters—most encounters in the Bible simply confirmed what was already written. God may give dreams or signs, but lasting assurance comes from His Word.
As we meditate on scripture, light and revelation come—sometimes not directly about our problem, but connected to our purpose, like Paul in the storm. That’s why we must make the Word a daily habit. In trials, the Spirit draws from the Word of God stored in our hearts. No Word in us means no strength in battle.
2 Peter Chapter 1 reminds us that we have a more sure word than any encounter. Scripture is God-breathed, a light in dark places. When illuminated in our hearts, it becomes an anchor. If we fix our gaze and hold firm, even when the physical reality screams otherwise, we’ll see the promise fulfilled. Faith is proven by endurance—not time. I believe God—it will be just as He said.
