Constructed to give people the illusion of walking on air, "The Walk of Faith" is a platform of laminated glass at the top of a 385-foot tower in Blackpool, England. An Associated Press photo showed a woman at the edge of the invisible walkway, fists clenched against her face, trying to summon the courage to take a step. She had been told the platform was safe, but she was still afraid.

Sometimes we feel that way about our circumstances. Perhaps a serious health problem has caused us to question the power and the presence of God.

It's encouraging to note that Paul's familiar words "We walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) occur in his discussion about being "absent from the body and . . . present with the Lord" (v.8). He used a powerful metaphor, calling our body an earthly house that's being destroyed, yet he said we have a heavenly building made by God. He spoke of groaning in our earthly frailty and longing for our heavenly home. He concluded that no matter what circumstances we face, we should make it our goal to please the Lord (v.9).

Our walk of faith can be challenging and sometimes scary. But because God is powerful and present, we can step out in confidence today.  — David C. McCasland