Read: Numbers 9:15-23
When I was growing up, I didn't know the love and forgiveness of Jesus. I didn't know that He is the Seeker and Saver of the lost, Luke 19:10 and that one of those lost ones was me. Because of all I didn't know, my identity centered around the fact that I was blind, but O how Jesus turned everything around when I became His child, John 1:12-13. My new identity? A loved daughter. A new creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17. God's workmanship, Ephesians 2:10. And so much more! Yes, I was still blind, but that truth began to move into the background rather than being in the center of my life. Jesus' truths concerning my new life began to supplant my old thinking.
Even with all of those sweet truths that strengthen me, I still find myself asking Jesus to give me every-day childlike faith. You know. That faith that sparkles with wide eyes and eager anticipation because I serve an all-knowing and all-powerful God, and this week, I was given two tiny pictures of how easy I often exhibit that trust toward another human being. They weren't jaw dropping incidents, but they reminded me through my interactions with people what my interaction with God should look like. Simple childlike trust that takes Him at His word, John 4:50.
The first one took place while a lady I had never met previously was walking with me through the hallways of an unfamiliar building. They seemed massive to me with all of their twists and turns; however, and interesting thing occurred to me. I wasn't ill at ease as we traversed them, and I never thought that she might lead me into a wall. Simple trust. Even though I never had met her before. I rested in the way she led me.
The second one occurred as I was riding with a friend down the road. She was commenting about the beauty of the pine trees with the snow cascading down them. I enjoyed it through her eyes that, of course, are so much better than my own. What I found interesting as I thought about her description is that I never doubted it. I never wondered if she were trying to paint a picture for me that didn't exist. I simply enjoyed the beauty she could describe because of her good vision.
Doesn't the Lord say that He will guide us with His eye on us, Psalm 32:8? Doesn't He promise that as we trust Him with all our hearts, He will direct our paths, Proverbs 3:5-6? Doesn't He promise that His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our paths, Psalm 119:105? Doesn't He promise to teach the humble His ways, Psalm 25:9? Doesn't He promise to guide us with His counsel and when this life is over take us to be with Him in glory, Psalm 73:24?
The one who walks ahead of a blind person is known as a sighted guide. If I can trust an unknown guide, how much more, with the help of the Lord can I trust the most trustworthy All-Sighted Guide, Jesus. He is the One Who knows when we sit and when we stand and knows the words we speak before we ever say them, Psalm 139:1-6. He is aware of every obstacle, and He can protect us or walk us through the traps of each day.
The Lord is also the One Who sees all the beauty we can't see. Even here on earth. There are wonderful things He is doing that we might miss if we don't allow Him to give us His perspective. If our eyes are so focused on the limited perspective, we have right in front of us, we might easily miss out on a lovely work He wants to do through us or a sight He wants us to see through His eyes.
In Numbers 9:15-22, we read about the way God guided His children in the wilderness. The cloud by day and the fire by night. When the cloud lifted, the people traveled safely under His protection, and if the fire went ahead of them to lead them by night, they moved. When God showed them it was time to remain in a location, there they stayed. Whether the time for staying was long or short, God's people obeyed.
I can't imagine that kind of leading; yet, I have the Holy Spirit within me and the Word of God which, as we have seen, provides me with multiple promises that the Lord will guide me even when I am not anticipating what He will do with childlike joy. He delights in my way and He guides my steps, Psalm 37:23-24, and He is changing me and all His children from glory to glory, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Lord, the more we trust You with childlike faith, the more joy we will have. Help us to do this, and when we fall, please lift us up and help us to enjoy Your perspective more and more.
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