For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
The county fair is coming soon and I don’t know about you, but we go every year. The week before we go, we research all the food options and talk about the craziest item on the menu we want to try – deep fried butter, deep fried Twinkie, deep fried nachos (who knew??) – the list goes on and on. Last year, I tried the fried chicken-on-a-donut sandwich. A-mazing!
Although my kids love go on the rides, my husband and I do not. So, we skip the “Grown-up” area and take our sons straight to the Family Zone. They ride to their heart’s’ content, then we head home. After we’ve eaten, of course.
One yea, my twins were finally old enough to go into the Mirror Maze House – a maze path of clear Plexiglas panels and mirrors. Entering at the front door, the goal is find a way to the back exit. They were advised to put their hands out in front to feel if the panels a clear barrier or an open pathway. Although my sons had been specifically instructed on the best method to navigate the maze (with hands up), they quickly forgot once they entered the house.
Remember those commercials back in the day for window cleaner? The bird would fly right into the sliding glass door because this particular brand of cleaner made it so clean that it looked like the door was open. Well, imagine that happening to my sons. Multiple times. One son thought he had finally found the right way and in his excitement, started to run – smack into the clear panel.
Thankfully, they were not injured, aside from the red marks on their foreheads. I personally found this to be hilarious at the time and after more thought, I realized how much that maze is like how we try to navigate our life. Today’s verse reminds us to walk by faith and not by sight. My sons were trying to walk through the maze by sight and that was not working well at all. After bumping their heads a few times, though, they started putting their hands out in front of them. In actuality, they could’ve closed their eyes and allowed their hands to do all the work.
The Lord wants us to follow in faith as well – to close our eyes, put our hands up in surrender, and let Him be the guide. When we try to navigate our way on sight only, we are easily deceived by our perceptions of which way the path is leading – just as my sons were. Taking the time to allow God to direct our next step will protect us from the unnecessary harm are rushing ahead on our own. When we trust in Him to make our paths clear, everything we need is to know is within an arm’s length; just the next step, then the next. In doing so, we live by believing and not by seeing. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT)
What area of your life is the Lord trying to lead? Perhaps you are contemplating a career change, beginning or ending a relationship, or buying a home. When we choose to walk in faith, we are trusting in the Lord to lead us according to His will.
Lord, thank for sending Your Holy Spirit to direct our paths in the way You would have us go. May Your presence be our tour guide through the maze of life, helping accomplish Your Will. Even when we cannot see the next step, we know You are with us. Teach us to walk in faith. Amen
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