Before I even open my eyes, I can feel the ache. My headache indicates that when I open my eyes the world will be blurry. These days, my eyes require extra energy to interpret the inputs of this world. Uncertainty shrouds the reality of things that used to be clear.
If only I can hide beneath the blankets in my bed and wait for it to subside.
Hearing the pitter-patter of feet coming down the stairs, I know that as a mother staying in bed is a luxury that I can’t afford. I can’t hide from my responsibilities or the people who need me most even when I would rather not face the day.
My ocular migraines arrive monthly, and while they are a hindrance, they are also a reminder to slow down and seek help. I can’t keep my normal frantic pace these days or rely on my senses to work at maximum capacity. Instead, I need to treat my body with extra sensitivity, rest, and medication. Caring for my body means wearing a hormone patch that delivers a chemical balance to my body and clarity to my vision.
With patience, my migraine will pass, and once again my eyes will function as God intended.
Maybe you’ve never had migraines, but I bet you’ve had days where you wished you could stay in bed. Maybe the pain of the day feels too hard to face or the uncertainty of the task before you appears insurmountable.
Our world daily reflects a blurriness of truth, where things that used to be absolute are now questionable, and the truth of what we are seeing can be difficult to discern. You don’t have to have an ocular migraine to feel like the world that you are looking at appears blurry, untrustworthy, and all too often painful.
Perhaps we need a patch, a constant dose of medication, to restore balance and to make our spiritual vision clear.
The good news is that God gives us one – His Word.
When our vision seems cloudy and the world uncertain, we can go to God’s Word for clarity and direction.
Psalm 119:105 says that “thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
When we walk in darkness, we are susceptible to tripping and falling. However, when we use a light, the path becomes illuminated and we can smoothly navigate the way forward. In other words, in a world where we are susceptible to pain and uncertainty, God’s living Word will light the way. He will reveal the truth, restore our sight, and show us the way forward.
God’s Word also trains and equips us for the challenges of this world.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
I don’t know about you, but most days I don’t feel equipped to handle the blurriness or brokenness of this world. Keeping my eyes closed feels like the easier option. However, the longer we avoid the problem, the greater the problem becomes. How will we ever see clearly if we never open our eyes? How will the world know the truth of God’s Word and the hope that it offers if we cover our heads and hide from the challenge?
The good news is we don’t have to rely on our own strength to see clearly. No matter how blurry the path forward may seem, we can be comforted by the fact that God’s Word will equip us. Some days it may take a constant dose of God’s truth, a continual clinging to His Word to face the day[CB2] . Perhaps you plaster scripture on post-it notes around your house, so that truth stays in the forefront of your mind throughout the day. As Timothy reminds us, God’s scripture provides correction, clarity, and wisdom.
When we see the world through the lens of His Word, He will equip us with a clear vision and His truth will bring balance and hope to the brokenness of this world.
- What is clouding your vision?
- How can you make time for a daily dose of God’s Word?
- Which of God’s truths do you need to cling to today?
- In what ways might God be calling you to open your eyes and share His truth to a blurry, broken world?
My prayer for you today is inspired by David’s words in Psalm 119:10-12, 15-18
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the gift of your Word. We praise You, because You have given us a guidebook to light our way and to show us how to navigate the brokenness in this world. We long to seek you with all our hearts. Help us to cling to your Word and hide it in our hearts so that we might not sin against you. Help us to meditate on your Word so that we can see the world through your eyes. Open our eyes to all the wonderful things in your Word and equip us to walk in your truth all the days of our lives.
Amen.
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