Today’s article appeared in the September 2020 issue of The Gospel News in the 5 Amazing Facts column. In this section of the paper, you learn five significant bits of information on a theme or scripture.

The scriptures define faith as believing in things that you can’t see. Although many people find this difficult to do when it comes to believing in things of God, there are actually many unseen things that we all readily believe in. Here are 5 amazing facts that describe unseen things that we all believe in firmly enough that we take specific actions in life based on that belief.

1. Wind

As Jesus says in John 3:8, we can’t see where it’s coming from or where it’s going. However, we can see what the wind does and, in extreme cases, we may take certain actions, such as staying indoors or securing items that can be damaged by this unseen force.

2.Tomorrow

We may never see it at all. Jesus tells us not to think about it. Yet we all make plans and take specific actions based on the firm belief that tomorrow will come. It may be helpful to read James 4:13-15 to learn that “ye know not what shall be on the morrow” so “ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

3. Weather Forecast

Although it’s hardly an exact science, we often make or change plans based on the forecasted weather, for which we rely on what other people tell us, not on anything we can see for ourselves. In Matthew 16:1-3, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for having faith in their own weather forecast but not discerning the signs of the times.

4. Electronic Data

All of the information that runs the world is stored on an unseen “cloud.” Unseen satellites tell our GPS devices the route we should take to go from Point A to Point B — and we willingly follow the directions exactly. Yet, many would find it hard to believe that God could have created a “ball of curious workmanship” that directed the travel of Lehi and his family as they traveled through the wilderness. (See 1 Nephi 16.)

5. Virus

In Exodus 12, the Israelites stayed in their homes and put lamb’s blood on their door frames so their lives would be spared from an unseen plague. In 2020, people throughout the world are wearing masks and not touching each other to slow the spread of an unseen virus. Unless you’re a scientist working in a lab, you’ve never seen an actual virus particle. Yet, your belief is strong enough that your daily actions revolve around avoidance of these unseen particles.

We believe in all of the above because we rely on the experience and/or expertise of people. There is nothing wrong with this but the scriptures tell us that “if we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater” (1 John 5:9). So, if we’re willing to take action based on what people say about things we can’t see, how much more should we who have the Holy Ghost within us be willing to take action based on our faith in God?

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.