Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

Mark 8:23-25

There are two things that I want you to see in this text. First, all of this takes place in the context of The Lord’s leading. Second, all of this takes place at the Lord’s discretion.  

All of this takes place in the context of the Lord’s leading. Even when I cannot see, I am led by the hand of Jesus. When I struggle to make sense of what is taking place in the world at large, in my own little part of that world, or in my own heart, the Lord leads me beside quiet waters and guides me in the paths of righteousness. (Psalm 23:2-3) The blind man did not know where Jesus was leading him. Still, the Lord led him. I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow. In his book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:16) You and I may not understand or see what God is doing right now. Even so, we do know he is at work. He is at work even now. (John 5:17) When you cannot see, hold tightly to his hand.  

What does it mean, though, to hold to the hand of Jesus? It means to believe what he has promised. It means to take refuge in his compassion. It means that his work, however mysterious it may be at present, has been designed and ordered before the foundation of the world to bring you into his presence forever. It means obedience to his revealed will. It means walking in faith wherever God leads you.  

That brings me to the second part. Trusting the Lord means believing that it is not my will that must be done, but his. Even so, the Lord tells us to lay our anxieties on him. (1 Peter 5:7) When Jesus spit into the blind man’s eyes and when he placed his hand on his eyes, it was not out of necessity. Likewise, the fact that Jesus progressively healed the man was not out of any weakness in Christ. Rather, we are shown that God works according to his own will and not according to ours. Jesus very well could have spoken and healed the man instantly. Instead, he chose to take several steps to heal the man progressively. So it is when it comes to you and me. We must bear in mind that God, in his immeasurable love for us, will always work in a way that glorifies him before his children, conforms us to his only-begotten Son, and draws us closer to him. The circumstances in our lives will always turn out (or not) according to God’s immeasurable love and unchanging grace toward us. Once again, you and I must believe what God says. He draws near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) When you cannot see, believe that the Light of the World is holding on to you. He is not merely leading you in your blindness. He is leading you so that in his time, according to his purpose, in his way, and with all the power of his love, you will come to see…him. 

Soli Deo Gloria.