Written by Lynn Geiser.

I have a confession to make: I LOVE SHOES! They don’t have to be expensive as long as they are “cute.” Spring and summer shoes are the cutest. One of my favorite pair of sandals is designed in such a way that a turquoise dragonfly extends across the top of my foot from my arch to between my toes. They are so comfortable and cute. As a kid growing up in the south, I sometimes went without shoes and paid the price with stickers, splinters, rock bruises, burned feet, and just plain filthy feet. I soon learned that I needed to put on shoes in order to avoid suffering unnecessary pain and get to where I needed to go. Thus, my love for shoes!

As a Christian, I have had to learn this valuable lesson as well. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We are prone to walk in life according to what we perceive instead of what we believe. Circumstances and feelings tend to overshadow what we know to be true about our God. As a result, we suffer unnecessary pain God never intended for us to experience. I asked the question in the title, “Have you put on your shoes?” Faith is something we have to choose to “put on,” just like shoes. The Christian life is not spooky or ethereal. It is as practical as putting on shoes to help you walk where you need to go. When we put on our “shoes of faith,” we are able to realize all God desires to give His children. God has a “promised land” for us to enjoy as we walk here on earth. This is our Canaan, “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). God has promised us victories, abundant blessings and fruitfulness in this life. Walking by faith is the only way we will arrive at these destinations.

Fourteen years ago, the Lord started me on a journey of learning about the reality of “walking by faith and not by sight.” I remember telling the Lord that I was tired of being stirred in my faith, but nothing ever seeming to change. Little did I know the trip I was about to take. I found myself battling depression, doubts and fears. I was void of true joy and inner peace. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me. I had the most blessed life anyone could ever desire.  None of it made sense. I am on the other side of all of that now. The Lord taught me many things, and as a result, He brought several people across my path that I can help in their trials with the comfort He has given me (2 Corinthians 1:4). Here is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to a young friend.

“Dear Friend,

I know what you are going through. I understand the twisting maze of your thoughts. Trust me, if you continue to allow your mind to travel down these paths you will be trapped in this maze. You have to stop this cycle of thoughts. The evil one has you trapped.

God loves you. He doesn’t want you to live in torture. However, He has allowed this in your life to draw you to Him. Therefore, you need to be on a search of Him. You need to truly get to know your God and understand His nature and character i.e. how He works in hearts and lives. This only comes as you choose to behold your God every day. Open your heart to Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Start at Genesis and read through Revelation. Keep a journal of what He shows you. “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).

As a testimony to you, I started getting the victory when I quit trying to figure out “why” and decided to just trust God. It was a matter of my will. Every time thoughts came to plague my mind, I stopped them and chose to trust. At first, for an extended period of time, I was constantly “bringing my thoughts into captivity” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Gradually, the Word of God and His truth began to clear my mind of wrong, fearful thinking.

There is hope. God is perfecting you in a fiery trial and you will come forth as gold as you choose to trust Him (Psalm 57:1; John 14:27; I Peter 5:6-11).”

Walking by faith brings life into perspective and we are able to see the bigger picture that God is alive and active in our lives (Hebrews 12:2).  Faith is an earthly experience. When we see our Savior in heaven, faith will be no more. It will turn to sight.

THIS IS FROM MY HEART.

This article was published in the Winter 2008 edition of The Beautiful Spirit magazine. Lynn Gleiser is the wife of Evangelist Morris Gleiser. Morris & Lynn Gleiser have two sons: Andy and Chad.

If you would like to contact Lynn, please email comments@thebeautifulspirit.org or message us on Facebook.