Blind Man's Bluff

Did you ever play blind man's bluff as a child? One child is blindfolded and the others call out to the blindfolded child. The blindfolded one tries to catch another child. Or have you ever been blindfolded and had someone lead you through an obstacle course? There are many games children play where one child is blindfolded and must feel his or her way out or trust another to guide them through what lies ahead.

Sometimes as adults we feel blindfolded in the midst of our trials, sorrows or times of important decision making. We may be confused, scared, upset, worried or in deep grief and we can't see our way out of the darkness we are in. You may be feeling that way today. You may be asking a dozen questions, wanting to know the next step, wanting to know how you will ever get out of this mess...perhaps wanting to know if this pain in your heart will ever heal...and no answer comes and you are in the darkest tunnel imaginable.

I remember all too well the days that I felt totally alone and totally in the dark.....until Jesus. I was in that place for a long time and had lost all hope...until Jesus. But Jesus was there right with me all along in the darkness. I needed to trust that He was there even if I didn't see Him or feel Him. Even in our fear and anxiety God asks us to trust Him. Why should we? Because we have His great and precious promises to hold on to, that He is there always.

Deuteronomy 31:8 "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you." (NLT)

God will not leave us alone; no, not ever...He has even gone ahead and paved the way. Even if I don't know or see what will happen, God knows. What a great comfort when we find ourselves in the darkest pit of pain, sorrow or trials.

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." (NLT)

When everything is pitch black, the Lord is there with His hand guiding us through and not just guiding us to "a" way out but to the "best pathway"...even if sometimes it doesn't exactly "feel" like the best pathway, we can rest in Him, that He has our best interest in His heart. Don't trust "feelings," trust God.

Is this God of ours trustworthy? Can we trust Him in the midst of pain and uncertainty? Today you and I have a choice...to be alone in the midst of blackness, fear and pain or trust that He is there to lead, guide and direct our every step for our good and His glory.

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by the 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 things I will do; I will not forsake them."

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 35 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of two grandsons. She serves at America's KESWICK as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.