How to Walk by Faith When You Can’t See the Way?

Exodus 13-14

God is stirring hearts across the country—people once distant from faith are returning, praying, and asking if Jesus is real. Many have already taken bold first steps toward change, but now face the challenge of walking by faith without clear direction. The tension lies in trusting God through everyday struggles, uncertainty, and the weight of reality that often feels heavier than hope. This week, we are going to discuss a real path for real people who want to keep moving with God when the trail goes dark.

  1. If you had to choose between having a detailed map for a journey or an experienced guide who doesn’t share the full route, which would you pick and why?
  2. Read Exodus 13:17–18. Pastor James said, “Fear grows where focus goes.” God leads the Israelites to what appears to be a dead end with the Red Sea in front and Pharaoh’s army behind them. What stands out to you most about this story?
  3. What you focus on influences how you live. Panic causes you to forget God. Have you seen this principle at work in your life?
  4. What does it reveal about God that He intentionally guided the Israelites the longer way around instead of taking the direct route to the Promised Land?
  5. Read Exodus 14:10-12. How did the Israelites react when they saw Pharaoh’s army approaching? What does their reaction show about human nature when facing challenges?
  6. Read Exodus 14:14. Moses tells the people, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Yet in the next verse, God says, “Tell the Israelites to move on.” How can you reconcile these seemingly contradictory instructions?
  7. Read Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” How does the Red Sea story illustrate this definition of faith?
  8. Read Exodus 14:16-17. Notice that God doesn’t promise to remove the sea. He doesn’t say, “I’ll make it disappear.” He says, “You have to go through it. I’m writing a bigger story here. I will show you my glory.” How does our faith grow when God leads us through difficult situations?
  9. Read Exodus 14:19. God moved from in front of the Israelites to behind them. What significance do you see in this change of position?
  10. Pastor James identified three principles for walking by faith: 1) Shift your focus from your problems to God’s promises, 2) Take the step before you see the way, and 3) Rely on God – He’s your back. Which of these is most challenging for you personally right now, and why?
  11. Pastor James said, “Faith is not about what you feel; it’s about where you focus.” Where has your focus been lately—on your problems or on God’s promises?
  12. By faith we understand. By faith we see. The reason the enemy fights you so hard at the edge of obedience is that he knows what happens when you step out. He knows that once you start moving, heaven begins to move. He understands that if you take that step, you enter God’s promise. That’s why the resistance feels strongest right before you move—because Satan knows the miracle is in the moving. What’s your current “Red Sea moment”—a situation where you feel trapped with no clear way forward? How might the principles from this sermon apply to that situation?