Following Where We Cannot See

Following Where We Cannot See

Have you ever found yourself driving through a fog so thick you couldn’t see the car ahead of you on the road? I once had that experience, and it’s definitely something I hope to never repeat! I was headed from Omaha to northern Minnesota for a girls’ weekend of scrapbooking at my daughter’s lake home. While driving along the interstate, a fog like nothing I’d ever seen suddenly moved in. For miles and miles, the only thing ahead of me was one vehicle with standard red taillights! He led the way and I followed closely enough to see his lights but far enough back to avoid a collision if he had to stop! Dense fog completely surrounded my car such that I could see nothing…not even the road…just those red lights leading the way. Believe me, I was praying that he could see where we were going, because I was following without being able to see a thing!

Sometimes following the Lord feels a bit like that, especially when we’re dealing with a phenomenon known as widow fog! We can’t see the plan, or the direction, or even a sneak peek at the way ahead! We feel as though tomorrow, or the next week, or life five years from now is completely obscured from our view. There can be fears and anxieties that we’ve never known that slip in and cause us to feel like we can’t breathe. We ask the question, “Why, God? Why can’t I see where we’re going?” …and sometimes there really isn’t an answer that comes, at least not right away.

There were lots of people in the Bible who were asked to step out in faith, yes, it’s faith. One of the most notable was Abraham. Genesis 12:1 tells us the following: “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you….So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. ⁵ He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.”

Can you even imagine? Abraham was no young man just starting out. He was born in Ur of the Chaldees to an idol-worshipping family. But God had a plan for Abraham, just as He has a plan for each of us if we choose to follow it. Look at his age! Did you ever realize how old he was when God called him and asked him to set out on a journey that would result in the birth of a nation, and change the course of mankind? He had a wife, extended family, possessions, probably servants and flocks and herds of cattle. This was no small undertaking God was asking of Abraham. He left family, friends, a successful lifestyle, the religion of his family, everything that was familiar to him – and he headed out not having a clue where he was going. God revealed the destination as he went, one step at a time. Sometimes God requires this kind of faith from us as we walk with Him.

There is another example of “blind faith” found in the Scripture: that of Saul on the road to Damascus. As he was riding along contemplating new ways to torment the followers of The Way (Christians), he suddenly had an encounter with the living Christ! The light that appeared was so brilliant that it left Saul completely blind.

Acts 9 gives a detailed description of this encounter. Let’s pick up at verse 6: “So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

Once again, we see God asking for a remarkable step of faith. Saul found himself completely blind, headed into a city, not knowing where he was going or what he would do. But he was so changed internally that he followed until God made the plan clear. And the rest, as they say, is history!

So where does that leave us? Well, first of all, widows are not the only humans who are required to walk in a fog at times! A better way to say it might be that God requires us to trust and follow Him by faith, no matter who we are.

Part of trusting Him has to do with believing His word is always true. Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us the following: ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Trusting that God’s Word is true means that we believe He has something in mind for us…yet. We have lost someone who was an integral part of our life, but life for us has not yet ended. God has purpose and plans for each of us, and if Abraham is any indication, some of them may not even begin until we’re at least 75 years old! Caleb was 80 years old when he asked Joshua to give him the hill country with the giants to conquer!

The key to finding that purpose and pathway is to call upon the Lord and seek Him with all your heart. It’s at that point of faith that God will hear you and lead you into a new season step by step. As always your thoughts and comments are welcome here, or you can email me at sheryl@freshhope.us. If you’d like to join others in this journey of refocusing your life, please consider being part of one of our groups. We look forward to hearing from you!