Moving in Faith
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)
If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," even darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
Psalm 139:11-12 (NASB)
Driving through the mountains recently, we found ourselves in the middle of very dense fog. We could barely see the car in front of us. Headlights, bright lights nor taillights were able to pierce the thick gray that surrounded us. Several cars had pulled off to the side of the road. Then suddenly, after inching along for what felt like hours, the sun began to shine through. The heat of the sun's rays began burning up the clouds and fog. The reality is that the sun was there the whole time. We just couldn't see it.
Today's Scriptures come from the Old Testament and describe times when the people of God had been oppressed by enemies, taken captive, and left to wander in the desert. What I find comforting about these passages is that I can closely identify with the writers. I've been in darkness, not knowing which way was up or which way to go. I've experienced spiritual blindness, unable to see God's hand at work or even sense His presence. But I also love and appreciate the core truths of these passages: God leads us. Even though we can't always see, God can. Even though paths are unfamiliar to us, they are known to God. Even when we are overwhelmed, God hasn't left us. Darkness is nothing to God, and He promises to lead us the whole way through.
Today, may you take steps of faith that allow you to see the beautiful, glorious light of God. For even in darkness, you are never alone. Ever.
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
Application: Has God been moving you to unfamiliar places? Is your faith being stretched? Meditate on today's Scriptures and ask God to help you move forward in faith.
Prayer: God, today I give You everyone and everything. I give You my projects, my worries, the desires of my heart, and the burdens of life. I give You all of it and ask You to lead me with Your light. I trust You with all that I have and all that I am. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?