DO I "RESPOND" OR "REACT"?

Yesterday, three special ladies and I began a new Bible Study by Jennifer Rothschild called "Walking by Faith... Lessons Learned in the Dark."  In the INTRODUCTION VIDEO the statement was made that: "When I choose to walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT --- no matter how hard life is --- I can simply say, "It is well with my soul even if it may not be well with my circumstance."  Following is her explanation of the difference between "Walking by Faith" and "Walking by Sight":

1. Walking by FAITH                            2. Walking by SIGHT
    Willing to take a step                                               Usually plays it safe
    Follows God; gives up control                             Seizes control
    Responds with thankfulness                                 Responds with bitterness and anger
    Perseveres, endures                                                Quits
    Is guided by truth                                                     Is influenced by feelings
    Is willing to wait on God                                        Waits on things from God

In looking and studying these two examples of our Christian Walk... you immediately see that in "Walking by Faith" we RESPOND... while "Walking by Sight" we REACT.  "Well, what is the difference," you may say --- and to answer that even for my own inquisitiveness ;) I came to the conclusion... RESPONDING takes thought and consideration, where REACTING is usually a "knee jerk" quick action without thought or consideration.
  
As believers, this beautifully illustrates how our lives ought to be lived... As if we were wearing "spiritual blindfolds."  God did not promise that we would be able to see everything that He is doing in our lives, or even see what we want in this life.  Nor are we guaranteed to understand our circumstances or why we must go through times of hardship, loss, illness, and struggles here on earth.  Instead, we are lovingly commanded to follow the voice of our shepherd... our Lord and to search for and consider what He is trying to teach us or how He is trying to lead us.  We are to focus on things eternal... not on things temporal.  We are to focus on HIM and not our circumstances.  We are to trust in "what we CANNOT see... "Walking daily by FAITH, and not by circumstances or SIGHT!"

TRUST shows itself when it leaves the tip of our tongues and lands on our tennis shoes and we begin to walk --- not just talk --- our FAITH!  ~Jennifer Rothschild

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:"  (2 Corinthians 5:7)