Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Grace and Hope.                    By Pastor Tom Joyce

August 27, 2020

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Life has a way of casting doubt on faith at times; declining health, pandemic woes, social unrest, violence, hatred, and just a sense of, well, where is God? If we lived our lives based always only what we see and what we feel during life’s challenging moments, then the present, if not the future could look pretty bleak.   The one thing that is not stated in the Bible is that our lives on earth will be filled with peace and tranquility all the time; it does not say that we will be free from pain and suffering, and it certainly does not say that everyone will act in a loving way towards one another in this world.  When we walk along the way by faith, we see and experience the presence of Jesus Christ actually carrying us through even the most difficult times of our lives; we look back upon them and confess, only by God’s grace, only by God’s grace. That is faith; knowing that Jesus is with you, will strengthen you, and will offer you whatever is needed to navigate life’s twists and turns. Walking by faith is understanding that God puts people in our path to inspire us, to comfort us, and to heal us through the grace of Jesus Christ. I remember way back when email was a novelty; something new to play with but certainly not the communication tool it is today. Early one morning during a time of prayer for those who were incredibly hurting, including myself, I saw a message on my computer; “you’ve got mail.” The email was from a friend who wrote me saying these words; “Don’t know why but I felt I needed to pray for you today.” I needed those words at that moment; the writer did not know why but God did and used him to help me along the way.  God uses others to build our faith when it begins to falter.  It is by faith we see the eternal in the immediate and know it is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that will guide us, equip us, and surround us with all we need to continue along the way. You are not alone in this life; your walk is not in isolation; you have a Savior in Jesus Christ to guide your steps and allow you to see with the “eyes of your heart” the Lord’s mighty hand along the way through the witness of others. Truly we walk by faith, not by sight; there is no other way to experience the healing presence of Jesus.

Rev. Tom Joyce