The writer of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith means trusting that God will keep His promises, even when it seems counterintuitive. And walking by faith requires a deep understanding of God’s Word combined with a willingness to follow His direction. But what does it look like, in a practical sense, to walk by faith? Here are a couple of examples.

• When God called Abraham to leave his home and journey to an unknown land, He promised that he would become the father of many nations (Genesis 12:1–3). Abraham didn’t know where he was going or how God would fulfill His promise, but he trusted in God’s plan and obeyed His call.
• When Paul faced imprisonment and persecution, he persevered and trusted God. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he described what this means by stating that “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Paul understood that his physical circumstances did not define his spiritual reality, and he placed his trust in God’s promises rather than his situation.

When we trust in God’s plan, we are able to surrender our fears and worries to Him, knowing that He is in control. This gives us an opportunity to experience His peace and joy, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Jesus tells us in the gospel of John, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). God strengthens us as we rely on Him.

James calls Christians to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22), which means we must put our faith into action. This means serving others, sharing the gospel, and living a life that reflects God’s love. Walking by faith is at the heart of that testimony, because as we do so, we demonstrate both trust in and obedience to God. We show the world that we believe God’s promises, even when circumstances threaten to overcome us, proving that our faith is worth more than anything the world can offer.