FAITH THAT SEES

Driving along Banks Lake through the Coulee Corridor, Roxanne and I have commented many times on what appears to be water stains over the cliffs of the Coulee walls.  “Wouldn’t it be a spectacular sight if those white-colored marks were waterfalls?”

Our speculation that the stains were evidence of waterfalls was confirmed a couple of weeks ago during a massive thaw.

The sight was nothing less than epic! Tumbling nearly 1,000 feet, the melting snow and ice gushed over the edges to a thrilling fall into the rocks below!

I set aside all other projects, grabbed my camera and drone, and rushed out. When I arrived, it wasn’t just the sight that struck me—the thunderous sound, the cool breeze, and the soft mist on my face were astounding!

The waterfall adventures remind me of faith. While there was evidence of waterfalls, we had not seen them personally. Roxanne and I could visualize them flowing where the dry white stains pointed to their seasonal existence, but we had not experienced them—not like this!

Faith – the confidence that what God is showing you is real! And you can TRUST Him.

A few years ago, as I was packing my camera gear for a day of real estate shoots, a random thought crossed my mind: “You’ll need your drone today.” It seemed odd since none of my scheduled shoots required a drone, but the thought lingered.

TRUST. Do you believe God speaks to you—even in the smallest matters? Do you ever struggle to discern whether it’s His voice or just your own thoughts? I have discovered it’s usually not “either-or” – it’s both. I am in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is in me, which equals relational unity. His presence influences my mind and thoughts (we have the mind of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:16) because of fellowship and communion. A dear friend and mentor coined a phrase I have found to be common sense in this regard: “Why wouldn’t it be God?”

And so, I practice hearing and trusting the Holy Spirit’s voice. Packing my drone with the other camera gear was practicing trust in what I believed to be His voice.

As I arrived at my first appointment and stepped out of the car, the realtor greeted me with a request: “I sure hope you brought your done!”

In my mind’s eye, the Lord seemed to wink at me in affirmation and pleasure as I reached into the back seat and pulled out the drone! I chuckled. The Lord had taken an interest in my work that day, ensuring I was fully equipped for the job.

There is a profound context to hearing and trusting the voice of God. God loves people. He created us for fellowship with Him. The point of God speaking to me was not just about our enjoyment of fellowship and working together. The Lord was thinking about the realtor and his clients, too. When we act in faith, people are impacted. As His child and ambassador, we manifest His presence. The real estate shoot wasn’t just a job. It was a spiritual act of service that carried the presence and power of God into my work environment.

Jesus said that His sheep would hear and recognize His voice, and the Holy Spirit would tell us of things to come. As His children, it is natural to be in constant communication with Him. Given this default status, “Why wouldn’t it be God?”

Genuine faith occurs rooted in loving intimacy with God, trusting His character, nature, and word! In Galatians, Paul instructs that FAITH works by LOVE. The interactive love I share with my Father activates true faith.

I went to photograph the waterfalls. They only run like this for a short time. If I had stayed in bed or kept to my schedule, I could only have relied upon other people’s accounts and photos. Faith demanded that I get up and get going now! No procrastination, no excuses. Standing at the falls in person rewarded me! I am not satisfied to live through the faith of others. Others’ faith can inspire, but it can’t replace my own experiences with God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6

Do you see the unseeable? If you are honest with the Holy Spirit inside of you, you probably see more than you are confident admitting.

Trust Him. Practice what you hear and see. You will likely behold something that is nothing short of epic!

I took hundreds of photos of these falls spanning a couple of days. I also recorded drone video. I created a short inspirational video showcasing my adventure. Please take a relaxing moment to enjoy and reflect on your faith.

Blessings!

“Falls of Faith”