Some of my most precious seasons of fellowship with Christ were
experienced, when, in the absence of all feeling, except that of severe
suffering, I would say by faith alone, "Thou, O Christ, art by my side.
Thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me." At last I accustomed myself to
believe his presence was real in spite of my feelings, so that by faith
I could almost imagine him at my side. As I walked, it seemed that we
kept step together; as I faced my congregations, he stood by my side,
unseen of course by physical eyes, but under such circumstances the
natural eyes can not be compared with the spiritual sight for clearness
of vision. I then learned what Paul meant to express when he said,
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). "Whom having not seen, ye
love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).