I have considerable myopic vision. That means I can see stuff that is super close to my face and not much else unless I have contacts or glasses on. So, the notion of being “blind” is one I have a brush of experience with.
If I can’t find my glasses when I'm first in a hotel room or camping, it is so disorienting. I’m grateful daily that I live in a time and place where I can have prescription lenses and join in the rest of life!
Much of life feels somewhat emotional or physical like my physical near-sightedness. It isn’t hard to get disoriented and feel blinded by circumstances.
Is Faith Meant to Be Blind?
We often think of concepts like love or faith as being blind, but I think a full reading through Scripture gives us a different insight. Faith is not blind, instead, it is focused, sharply focused, on its objective, which is Jesus.
When life gets troubling, it is like driving through fog and rain. You know the road is there. You know that centerline is in front of you and even if it is hard to see, you strain to look for it through the blurring circumstances.
You may not be able to see as clearly as you’d like, and you might even have to pull over for a bit to get your bearings or let the storm pass, but you still know where and how to go. Your goal isn’t changed just because your vision was momentarily obscured.
Hebrews 11 tells us “Faith is the assurance of things not seen…” and then goes on to describe the heroes of our faith, many of whom, “died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
Faith in the Bible
Our heroes of faith saw the promises not in front of them, but far off. They didn’t get to experience the fullness of their hope here on earth but knew what Jesus demonstrated for us — a focused conviction on more than what our physical eyes can see.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3).
At this moment in history, our near-sightedness is being felt perhaps uncomfortably. Pandemic and economic uncertainties have laid bare the realities of our myopic state and left us feeling vulnerable. Perhaps, even blinded.
This is a time that we all share together. Yet there are countless individual moments that resonate with the same emotion. Death and loss rock our world with grief. The fog of pain obscures our vision, but if we stay steady, it doesn’t diminish our faith, even if we can’t quite see our Lord’s face through the hurt.
There are smaller losses that ripple through our lives as well; jobs, moves that strain us, dry seasons in our spiritual life, aches in our relationships, disappointments in our own abilities or successes. All of these can darken our perspective, but they weren’t meant to be the focus of our faith. Only Jesus is worthy and able to carry that place in our hearts.
Faith in Jesus
These moments of emotional/spiritual fog echo Peter’s attempt to join Jesus on the waves. If we look at the storm and the waves, our hearts will sink. But if our faith is fixed on Jesus, our faith will carry us to Him.
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” (Matthew 14:22-33).
The Lord doesn’t require blind faith. In fact, quite the opposite. Look to Jesus, hard, steady, and focused. He is the author and perfecter of your faith. And today an important piece of your faith is being written. So steady on. Look hard. He’s there.
What Does This Mean?
King David prayed, “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake” (Psalms 17:15).
Like David, we must safeguard the places we rest our faith; not in success or on earthly circumstances. Those things are not worthy of our hearts and are so easily lost. Our faith and hope rest on Jesus Himself. He is the goal of our satisfaction, His presence and growing in His likeness.
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April Motl is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry director. When she’s not waist-deep in the joys and jobs of motherhood, being a wife, and serving at church, she writes and teaches for women. You can find more encouraging resources from April here and here.
