In a world where success is often measured by visible achievements, accolades, and tangible results, the concept of unseen success can seem absurd. Yet, in the Kingdom of God, success is not always about what is seen but about steadfast obedience and trust in God’s plan.
The profound truth is that taking faithful steps, even when outcomes are not immediately evident, leads to genuine success in God’s eyes.
Trusting Beyond Sight
Abraham’s story is an ideal example of walking in faith without visible assurance. In Genesis 12:1-4, God calls Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household to go to a land He would show him. Without knowing the destination, Abraham obeys. This act of obedience, devoid of immediate clarity, exemplifies unseen success.
Hebrews 11:8 reflects on this: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Abraham’s success was not in reaching a physical destination but in his unwavering trust and obedience to God’s command.
This teaches that success in God’s kingdom often involves stepping into the unknown, guided solely by faith. It’s a reminder that the journey, marked by obedience and trust, holds as much value as the destination.
Provision Through Obedience
In 1 Kings 17:8-16, during a severe drought, God instructs the prophet Elijah to go to Zarephath, where a widow would supply him with food. Upon arrival, Elijah finds a widow gathering sticks, preparing a final meal for herself and her son before they succumb to starvation. Elijah asks her for water and a piece of bread.
Despite her dire circumstances, the widow obeys Elijah’s request, using her last bit of flour and oil to prepare food for him. Her act of obedience, even in the face of death, leads to a miraculous provision: “The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry” (1 Kings 17:16).
The widow’s story illustrates that unseen success often involves sacrificial obedience. Her willingness to trust God’s word, delivered through Elijah, resulted in sustained provision for her household. This account emphasizes that success is not always about abundance but about faithfulness in scarcity.
Conclusion
The narratives of Abraham and the widow of Zarephath underscore a central theme: true success in the life of faith is rooted in obedience and trust, not in visible outcomes. These stories challenge the conventional metrics of success, inviting believers to value faithfulness over results.
In our own lives, we may face situations where the path is unclear, and the outcomes are uncertain. Yet, as 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Embracing this perspective allows us to take faithful steps, trusting that God honours our obedience, even when success is unseen.
Let us, therefore, redefine success not by what we achieve but by our faithfulness to God’s calling, confident that He sees and rewards our unseen steps of obedience.