The popular Christian understanding is that we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). On this point I do not disagree. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) By faith we yearn for Christ's return, the fulfillment of all Scripture, and a coming eternity without sin or pain.  So what merit is there to walk by sight? For the anxious (yours truly) there is a tendency to conjure various untruths about what's not there, unleashing a type of paranoia. A downward spiral ensues, often accompanied by a sea of unproductive thoughts. Taking clear stock of reality is necessary to stem these fears. Separate fact from fiction. Refrain from entertaining what's not there. Cling to Scripture as truth. Cycling through these reminders keeps me grounded and choosing faith (oddly, as I walk by sight). 

Certainly, the outstanding point to be made here is that of faith. And when faith ultimately gives way to sight, what a glorious realization that will be!

I had a best friend growing up who happened to be better than me at everything. For so many reasons I wanted to be her. She was the essence of cool, and I was just trying desperately to follow. I knew for many reasons that I would never quite match her, but I could sure as heck try. All that trying left me disappointed, questioning why I had seemingly less to work with. It wasn’t fair. Comparing ourselves to others stops us from running the race that is set before us - one that is in plain view, but our unwillingness to journey it stops us dead in our tracks. I am still derailed by the ugly game of comparison. It can get me as far as questioning if God even cares about me (just the other day, in fact). Believing that lie is a slippery slope, leading only to self-pity.

Dear runners, let us throw off that sin that so easily entangles so that we may run this race with the endurance it requires! (Hebrews 12:1-2)

A sense of loneliness can consume us when we feel no one understands us. To our discredit, we often shun any sympathizers, believing instead that it is solely our burden to bear. It's much easier to wallow in misery than to hope. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus is our great high priest, who is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. The double negative here is appropriate, confronting the lie that wants to convince me Christ is not the superior Savior He is. Indeed, He knows exactly the temptations we face, and yet was without sin. The sympathy of a Savior is glad tidings of great comfort and joy!

There is a tendency of mine to equate faith to a savings account, expecting my initial deposit to yield its return while doing nothing or very little about it. But with faith there is always something to be obtained for it to be the conviction of things not seen. Faith demands an active striving that I admittedly grow weary in. Didn't I muster enough faith in the past to be exempt from this present difficulty? There is a rest that remains to be realized, and as long as there is a "today," let us exhort one another to hold fast our confidence to the end.

I sometimes have this habit of drifting into my own inner thoughts, completely ignoring any human around me. In these moments I often think I've adequately heard or answered someone, only to find that the dialogue has only taken place in my head. Drifting may seem rather innocuous, but its effects are surprisingly destructive at times. I usually drift without knowing - oh the plight of the introvert! This is usually met with the ire of the other person, which snaps me back to attention.

In matters of faith, drifting can happen with great subtlety until the appeal of our Savior gradually loses its luster. We become dull to the reality that we are a saved people - people of hope already delivered from that which condemns us. So let us pay more attention lest we drift away the message of salvation that we so joyfully proclaim this season.