Having Clear Vision

For years, I walked around with poor vision but did nothing about it. I believed I could navigate the world perfectly with concentration.

I know what you are thinking: Is she kidding? Yes, I am.

I was content to walk around with blurred vision until I began to experience migraines and watery, itchy eyes. I remember that when I first got glasses, I saw things so clearly: I could read street signs while driving and fine print on a page.

Colors were brighter; shapes were sharper.

I could see! How amazing was that! No more squinting or invading others’ personal space to read something. If only I had done this sooner! Though I enjoyed seeing the world clearly, I developed bad habits, such as not wearing my glasses.

Without them, I had to rely on my blurred perceptions or on others to see what was in front of me. In our Christian walk, we sometimes develop blurred vision.

We try to look at God through our earthly and failing sight, expecting to see Him clearly. We go around, squinting and rubbing our eyes in hopes of catching a glimpse of His love. He is patient as He waits till we are ready to get our sight adjusted. Jacob knew of God because of what his father and grandfather had taught him. After all, Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. I can only imagine how many stories had been passed down to him. Yet that was not an indication that Jacob clearly saw who God was. Even after having a dream in which he saw angels ascending and descending a ladder stretching from heaven to Earth (Genesis 28:12), Jacob commented, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not” (verse 16, KJV). But sometime later, when Jacob wrestled with God, he finally saw with spiritually clear vision: “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30, KJV). We cannot see God’s goodness clearly or fully understand His love with poor spiritual eyesight. Only God’s touch can heal blurred vision. Allow God to open your eyes today so that you can see and appreciate Him for yourself.

Diantha Hall-Smith