MASTER THE SKILLS TO WALK IN FAITH

 

MASTER THE SKILLS TO WALK IN FAITH 

By Durrell Dixon | Faith-Based Personal Development Coach & Christian Psychology Advocate


Some scriptures Holy Spirit breathes on and gives you a whole new revelation. That’s what happened to me with 

1 Corinthians 5:7:

“We live by faith and not by sight.”

That sounds powerful. But to be honest, it’s not always easy to live out.

I mean, how do you move forward when you can't see what's ahead? How do you keep walking when every step feels uncertain?

That’s when the Lord whispered something into my spirit that transformed my understanding:

“You don’t need sight to walk—sight makes walking easier, but belief is what makes it possible.”

Let that settle for a minute.

Faith: More Than a Feeling

We often live as if faith is optional—something we pull out when we feel brave or when all the other pieces fall into place. But that’s not biblical faith. Real, raw, God-trusting faith happens in the dark. It’s not about seeing where you’re going. It’s about trusting who is leading you.

Psychology has started catching up with what scripture has always taught. A 2022 study published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality found that individuals who maintained spiritual beliefs and practices—especially in the absence of concrete outcomes—showed significantly higher emotional resilience and purpose during uncertain times (Park et al., 2022). In other words, when you trust God even when you don’t see the whole picture, it does something powerful in your soul.

A Lesson from the Blind

God gave me a powerful image: a blind person walking.

They don’t walk because they see, they walk because they believe in the one guiding them. Whether it's a trained dog, a cane, or the sound of a familiar voice, their steps come from confidence in the guide, not clarity of vision.

That wants Jesus for you and me. Our Guide. Our Shepherd. The One who knows the road when we don’t.

Hebrews 11:1 says,

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is having the confidence to keep walking, not because you know every detail, but because you know God.

How to Trust When You Can’t See

You might be wondering: “Okay, but how do I actually do this?”

Here’s what helps me—and these steps are backed both by Scripture and validated research that shows the emotional and mental health benefits of spiritual trust:

  • Spend time in His presence. According to a 2021 Journal of Positive Psychology study, people who spent regular time in prayer reported lower stress levels and higher levels of psychological well-being—even when their circumstances didn’t change (Wong et al., 2021).

  • Soak in His Word. The more Scripture you internalize, the easier it is to recognize His voice in your life. Romans 10:17 reminds us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

  • Practice stillness. In a world that rushes us to “figure it out,” learning to pause and be still before the Lord builds spiritual sensitivity (Psalm 46:10). Mindfulness rooted in biblical reflection is shown to lower anxiety and increase clarity in faith-based decision making (Garzon & Murphy, 2023).

Faith Isn’t Always Comfortable—But It’s Always Worth It

I don't want to give the impression that walking by faith is easy. Faith doesn’t always feel good.  

My sister Lisa said something to me about faith that stuck with me- walking by faith sometimes feels like standing at the edge of a cliff and hearing God say, “Jump—I’ll catch you.”

That’s terrifying. But it’s also where transformation begins.

When we stop needing to see and start choosing to believe, we activate a kind of spiritual power that can’t be manufactured by human logic. The early church walked in it. The patriarchs lived by it. Jesus taught it. And now, by grace, you and I can walk in it too.

Faith Over Fear—Every Time

Here’s the trap: we hesitate because we can’t see how things will work out. We want guarantees, GPS directions, signs, and wonders before we take the first step.

But that’s not faith—that’s control.

Faith says, “Even if I don’t know the whole story, I trust the Author.”

Faith is not an emotional high; it’s a relational decision. And once we choose to walk in it, something powerful happens: fear begins to shrink.

A 2023 peer-reviewed study from the Journal of Spirituality in Clinical Practice found that people who regularly practiced trust in God, even when experiencing fear or uncertainty, reported greater peace, stronger purpose, and improved emotional regulation (Johnson & Steele, 2023).

God wired us this way—when we trust, even blindly, our brains begin to regulate better. Our bodies settle. Our spirits align with His peace.

Walking by Faith

Take the step, even if you don’t see it.
Don't focus on making sense of the Spirit's leading; it often doesn't

Here's What You Can Do

Defuse and Do Method

  1. Notice fearful thoughts: e.g., “I don’t see how this bill can be paid .”

  2. Label them: “That’s a worry.” Say it out loud 

  3. Choose value-based action: “ I choose not to worry or figure it out, but depend and trust God to give me the solution.”

  4. Take a tiny step: a prayer, take a break from looking at the bill(s).

The If-Then Strategy 

  1. Choose one step of faith you sense: e.g., “getting up at 3AM to pray.”

  2. Create an if‑then plan:
    If it’s 3 AM today (cue), then I will get out of bed and pray when the alarm goes off  (action).

  3. Say it aloud once.

  4. At the marked time (e.g., 9 AM), immediately follow through.

You don’t have to see it. You only have to trust the One who does.

Just like a blind person depends on the voice of their guide, you can trust that the Lord is speaking, leading, and holding you. He sees what’s ahead, even if you don’t.

Belief, not sight, is what makes walking possible.

So lean in. Listen closely. And walk forward. He’s got you.


References

  • Park, C. L., Smith, P. H., Edmondson, D., & Blank, T. O. (2022). Spirituality during times of uncertainty: Faith and mental health during COVID-19. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(1), 33–47.

  • Wong, J. Y., McDonald, M. J., & Lieu, M. (2021). Prayer, well-being, and meaning-making: How spiritual disciplines buffer psychological distress. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(4), 478–489.

  • Garzon, F. L., & Murphy, T. (2023). Mindfulness and Scripture meditation: A Christian integration for reducing anxiety. Journal of Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10(2), 141–151.

  • Johnson, B., & Steele, T. (2023). Trusting God in uncertain times: Faith-based coping and emotional regulation. Journal of Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10(3), 189–200.

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