How Can You Trust a God You Can’t See?
If you've ever found yourself wondering how to trust in a God you can't see, or if you're just starting to explore faith, this post is here to help. I hope to provide some clarity and encourage you to overcome doubts, strengthen your trust, and find peace in God's presence, whether or not you can physically see Him.
Coming To A Place Of Trust
So often, we focus on the things we can see, and anything beyond that can lead us to question. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I’ve wrestled with this question and come to a place of trust, but I know it’s not always easy to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced the same. Even as Christians, we sometimes face moments of doubt and struggle to fully trust God.
Why Trust a God You Can’t See?
Maybe you’ve had a church background but never fully heard answers to how you can trust a God you can’t see. Or maybe you don't have any religious background at all, and if that’s the case, here’s how I would explain it. These aren’t exhaustive answers, just 7 main reasons for you to consider when it comes to trusting an invisible God.
1. We Trust Many Things We Can’t See
If you really sit down and think about it, we often trust in things we can’t see all the time. For example, we trust gravity to keep us grounded, we trust electricity to power our homes, and we trust the wind to move the trees. These things are invisible, yet we rely on them without hesitation.
So that’s the first thing we have to think about. We can’t always use our eyes to determine if something exists or if we can trust in its existence. The effects of these invisible things, the way they work in our lives, serve as the evidence of their existence.
Trust is not always about physical sight or even something you can touch with your hands. Often, it’s about seeing how something impacts the world around us. We trust these invisible forces because of the way they show up in real, tangible ways.
“Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:16 NLT
2. Trust Is Built on Experience, Not Just Sight
As I mentioned in the first point, we trust many things we can’t see. But even with the things we can see, it’s the experiences we have with them that build trust over time. For example, we can’t physically see trust itself, but we experience it through feeling safe, finding comfort, or even noticing that things work as they should, like a chair supporting us when we sit, or a friend keeping their word.
We also experience things we can’t see, like emotions or peace. These are real, though invisible, and we know they affect our lives. We experience hope when things look bleak or joy even in small moments. These feelings impact us deeply, even though we can’t touch or see them.
When it comes to people, we use our experiences to establish trust as well. We trust people based on how they’ve presented themselves to us in the past, whether through actions or words. Sometimes, we trust people simply because of their title or role in our lives, like a teacher, doctor, or parent. Their past behavior or position often builds trust, even if we can’t physically see or prove it in the moment.
3. There Is a Pattern of Trustworthy Evidence
For the first two points, I wanted to set a foundation. Now, we’re going to talk about evidence. Much of the history we know today comes from written and oral accounts, and archaeology has often confirmed the events described. These sources provide us with evidence that helps us understand the past, and we can use similar evidence when it comes to trusting in God.
The stories and teachings about God in the Bible have stood the test of time. They tell real human experiences of struggle and hope, and throughout the Bible, we see a consistent picture of a God who cares and can be trusted. For instance, in the book of Daniel, we see how the prophecies of Jeremiah came to life exactly as foretold. This is just one example of how God’s promises and words are trustworthy over time.
We can also look at the eyewitness accounts of Jesus, how He lived, was crucified, and rose from the dead. His followers saw Him with their own eyes. They witnessed Him rise into the clouds, and those accounts spread far and wide. The impact of these events is still felt today, as they continue to shape the lives of millions around the world.
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
John 20:29 NLT
4. Faith Doesn’t Require Seeing to Believe
Even if someone isn’t a Christian, faith is a part of life, whether we recognize it or not. Faith is essentially trust or belief in something we cannot always see or fully understand.
For example, we can’t physically see the value of money. It fluctuates daily, depending on markets, inflation, and global events, yet we trust that it holds value. Despite the changes in exchange rates and economic conditions, we still rely on money to buy what we need because we’ve experienced it working in a consistent way over time. We also put faith in medical treatments, trusting that doctors and medicines will do what they claim, even though we may not fully understand how everything works. We place faith in our futures, hoping that the choices we make today will lead to good outcomes, even though the future is uncertain.
Faith is an everyday part of life. We constantly trust in things we can’t physically see or prove in the moment. The same principle applies when it comes to trusting in God. We may not see Him with our eyes, but we trust in Him based on what we know of His character, His promises, and the impact He has in our lives.
5. God’s Impact Is Seen in How People Live
Even if you can’t see God directly, you can see the impact of belief in Him through the way people live. Faith in God changes lives, giving people hope, strength, and purpose in ways that are hard to explain otherwise. For example, in difficult times, you may notice how some people have peace that doesn’t seem to come from their circumstances. Others may display kindness or forgiveness that goes beyond what seems natural. These kinds of changes point to something real behind their faith, a source that isn’t visible but is clearly affecting how they live.
You don’t have to see God to know that He’s at work in someone’s life. The transformation that faith brings is often visible to those around them, even if the God they believe in isn’t physically seen.
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature.”
Romans 1:20 NLT
6. God’s Care is Seen in Creation
God’s impact isn’t only visible in people, but also in His creation. We can see His care all around us in the beautiful landscapes, the balance of nature, and the way animals and plants thrive. The soil is covered with grass and flowers, and the rain falls to water the ground. We see Him provide for the care of animals and crawling creatures. They eat, they grow, and they reproduce.
The landscape may change over time, but the seasons remain. We see the consistency of summer, fall, winter, and spring, each bringing its own beauty and purpose. All of this points to a God who designed and sustains the world around us, ensuring that life continues and thrives.
Finding Faith in a God You Cannot See
So many of us come to trust in God, whom we cannot see, by very different journeys. For me, it began when I was a little girl. I remember a group of friends and a loving father and mother who decided to hold a small Bible study for children. It was there that I first felt something different, comfort and love that I did not always feel at home. Year after year, my steps toward faith grew closer, and I began to see how God was quietly guiding them.
It is amazing how He orchestrates the paths of our lives. Some people come to know Him through dramatic, life-changing moments, what we might call a radical transformation. Others discover Him through quiet reflection and time spent seeking answers. However it happens, faith in God grows as we begin to see His hand at work in our stories, weaving them into something greater than we could ever create on our own.
Trust Begins with Seeking
Right now, you are reading this blog. Maybe you were looking for something specific, or maybe you clicked by accident and decided to keep reading. Either way, that small act of curiosity is where trust begins. Trust always starts with a step, and that step is seeking. Not seeking to argue or disprove, but to understand.
When we seek with an open heart, we allow space for truth to take root. God is not hiding from those who truly want to know Him. In fact, His Word reminds us, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV). Trusting in God begins with that desire to know who He really is.
Seeing the Invisible Through Jesus
We may not be able to see God with our physical eyes, but He has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. The Bible describes Jesus as “the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV). When we look at how Jesus lived, taught, and loved others, we see the heart of God on display.
Through the written accounts of Jesus’ life, we find trustworthy evidence of God’s character. His compassion, miracles, and sacrifice are not hidden stories but eyewitness testimonies that have stood through generations. Each time someone encounters Jesus through Scripture, they come face to face with the visible image of the invisible God.
Faith Is a Daily Choice
The truth is, everyone places trust and faith in things they cannot see every single day. We trust that our cars will start, that our homes will stay safe, that the food we eat will sustain us. We trust in the goodness of friends, the skill of a doctor, and the guidance of teachers. Trusting in God is no different. It is a choice we make, a step we take even when we cannot see Him with our physical eyes.
Faith is not blind. It is built on what we know to be true, what we have experienced, and what we have seen in the lives of others. God has shown His faithfulness over and over, in creation, in the lives of people, and most clearly in Jesus. Trusting Him is choosing to believe that He is real, He is good, and He is working even when we cannot see the full picture.
If you find yourself struggling with doubt or wondering how to trust God, I encourage you to readHow to Trust God if Struggling with Doubt. It offers practical steps and encouragement to help you take those next steps in faith, even when you cannot see.
Hi, I’m Dana, the voice behind Exhortations for Today. I’m a grandmother called Nonna, a home cook, and an aspiring quilter. I believe in the power of God’s Word to recharge and renew the weary soul. Here, I share devotionals, Bible study tips, and reflections on living a faith-filled life. Want to learn more about my journey? Read more about me here.
