Believe Before You See
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
— Corrie ten Boom
Faith does not begin when the answer arrives. Faith begins when God has spoken and we choose to trust Him before we see the evidence.
The world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Scripture teaches us to believe God, stand upon His Word, and trust Him with the outcome.
Theme: Faith Believes God’s Word Before It Sees God’s Work
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
— John 14:12–14 (KJV)
Before Jesus spoke about works, He spoke about belief. And when He spoke about answered prayer, He pointed it back to the glory of the Father.
Faith is not about convincing God to do what we want. It is knowing His heart, trusting His Word, and bringing our lives into agreement with His will.
Emphasis: Believe Before You See
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
Sight says, “Nothing has changed.”
Faith says, “God has not changed.”
Paul lived this kind of faith. In Acts 27, he was trapped aboard a ship in a violent storm. The circumstances were so desperate that Scripture says “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” Yet God sent an angel to Paul with a promise that their lives would be spared.
Paul could not see the rescue. The storm was still raging. The ship was still in danger. But he chose to believe what God had spoken.
“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
— Acts 27:25 (KJV)
That is faith before sight.
The storm had not stopped, but Paul believed God anyway.
Our confidence is not in our ability to believe hard enough. Our confidence is in the faithfulness of the One we believe.
Attributes of the God We Believe
Faithful — He keeps His promises.
“For he is faithful that promised.” — Hebrews 10:23
Sovereign — He is working even when we cannot see it.
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.” — Romans 11:36
Powerful — Nothing is beyond His ability.
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” — Luke 1:37
Gracious — Through Christ, we can come boldly before Him.
— Hebrews 4:16
Unchanging — His character does not shift with our circumstances.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8
Our faith is not anchored to changing circumstances. It is anchored to an unchanging Christ.
Faith Has an Object
Jesus made it simple:
“Have faith in God.”
— Mark 11:22 (KJV)
Our faith is not in ourselves, our emotions, or our ability to pray perfectly. Our faith is in God.
Jesus lived the sinless life, died for our sins, and rose victorious from the grave. Because of His finished work, we have access to the Father.
The answer is not to have faith in our faith. It is to know God so deeply that we learn He can be trusted.
Personal Application
Every difficult season asks us:
Will I trust what I see, or will I trust what God has said?
When fear rises, go to the Word before allowing fear to write the ending. When the answer seems delayed, keep trusting. When circumstances appear impossible, remember Paul standing in the middle of the storm saying, “I believe God.”
“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
— Romans 8:25 (KJV)
Sometimes the storm will still be raging when God asks us to believe Him. We do not have to see the entire road before taking the next obedient step.
Believe before you see—not because you know what tomorrow will bring, but because you know the God who is already there.
Prayer
Father, teach me to believe Your Word before I see the answer. When the storm is still raging and circumstances challenge my faith, remind me of Your character. Give me the confidence to say with Paul, “I believe God.” Help me walk by faith and not by sight, stand upon Your promises, and trust You with what I cannot understand. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
