Walking by Faith in Uncertain Times in Scripture
Scripture anchors the concept of faith-walking in the apostle Paul's declaration: "For we walk by faith, not by sight" [3]. This principle, rendered in Rotherham's translation as "By faith, are we walking, not by sight" [2], establishes a fundamental orientation for believers navigating circumstances where outcomes remain hidden and futures uncertain.
The Pattern of Patriarchal Faith
Hebrews 11 provides the biblical catalog of faith exercised amid uncertainty. Abraham "when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went" [5]. The text emphasizes the patriarch's ignorance of destination—he possessed a command and a promise, but no map. Similarly, Noah "being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house" [1]. Noah's faith responded to divine warning about an unprecedented catastrophe, constructing an ark on dry ground for a flood no one had witnessed. Both figures acted on revelation concerning invisible realities, their obedience preceding empirical confirmation.
The Israelite wilderness wanderings present a corporate dimension to this theme. Following their refusal to enter Canaan, the generation that left Egypt "wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan" [7]. Though this wandering arose from disobedience, the narrative affirms that "He led them forth by the right way" [7], suggesting divine guidance operates even through prolonged uncertainty and apparent detours.
The Nature of Faith's Operation
Jesus defines faith's potency in Matthew 17:20: "if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" [4]. The mustard seed metaphor emphasizes not the quantity but the quality and object of faith—a living confidence that acts on God's word despite visible obstacles. This faith does not require comprehensive understanding before obedience; it requires trust in the One who commands.
one commentary tradition tradition notes that faith manifests as "the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith" [9]. Faith in uncertain times is not passive resignation but active trust that produces concrete obedience. It operates as "one continuous chain of 'work'" rather than sporadic acts [9].
Temporal Uncertainty and Eschatological Hope
Paul's reference to those "who have before hoped in the Christ: who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel" [10] locates faith-walking within Israel's long centuries of messianic expectation. The twelve tribes "instantly serving God day and night, hope to come" to the fulfillment of promise [10]. This sustained orientation toward an unseen future characterized faithful Israelites across generations of waiting.
The exhortation to "walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time" [6] connects faith-walking to the believer's conduct in a watching world. Uncertain times do not suspend ethical responsibility or missional engagement; rather, they intensify the call to wisdom and strategic use of opportunity.
Watchfulness as Faith's Companion
The call to watchfulness accompanies faith in uncertain seasons. Scripture commands believers to watch "with prayer" and "with thanksgiving," maintaining "steadfastness in the faith" and "at all times" [8]. This vigilance is not anxious fretting but alert dependence, recognizing that uncertainty demands spiritual attentiveness. Ministers especially bear responsibility for this watchfulness [8], modeling for congregations how faith operates when clarity is absent.
The biblical pattern consistently presents faith not as certainty about circumstances but as confidence in God's character and promises. Abraham departed without knowing his destination; Noah built without seeing rain; Israel wandered under divine guidance through barren wilderness. Each scenario required trust that preceded understanding, obedience that preceded sight, and perseverance through prolonged ambiguity. The apostolic summary remains definitive: believers navigate their pilgrimage by faith's orientation, not by sight's confirmation [2, 3].
Sources
- Hebrews “By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. -- Hebrews 11:7”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:7 (Rotherham) — By faith, are we walking, not by sight;—”
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 5:7 — (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
- Matthew “He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. -- Matthew 17:20”
- Hebrews “By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. -- Hebrews 11:8”
- Colossians “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. -- Colossians 4:5”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wandering — Of the Israelites in the wilderness in consequence of their rebellious fears to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:26-35). They wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan (Josh. 4:19; 5:6). The record of these wanderings is given in Num. 33:1-49. Many of the stations at which they camped cannot now be identified. Questions of an intricate nature have been discussed regarding the "Wanderings," but it is enough for us to take the sacred narrative as it stands, and rest assured that "He led them forth by the right way" (Ps. 107:1-7”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Watchfulness — Christ an example of -- Mt 26:38,40; Lu 6:12. Commanded -- Mr 13:37; Re 3:2. Exhortations to -- 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 4:7. God especially requires in ministers -- Eze 3:17; Isa 62:6; Mr 13:34. Ministers exhorted to -- Ac 20:31; 2Ti 4:5. Faithful ministers exercise -- Heb 13:17. Faithful ministers approved by -- Mt 24:45,46; Lu 12:41-44. Should be With prayer. -- Lu 21:36; Eph 6:18. With thanksgiving. -- Col 4:2. With steadfastness in the faith. -- 1Co 16:13. With heedfulness. -- Mr 13:33. With sobriety. -- 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 4:7. At all times. -- Pr 8:34. In all thin”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:12: (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.”