Using Our Spiritual Eyes - Divorce Minister

Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! The young man exclaimed, “Oh, master! What shall we do?”

He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.”

Then Elisha prayed, “O God, open his eyes and let him see.”

The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!

-2 Kings 6:15-17, The Message

Hindsight is much easier than seeing in the moment. 

It felt like God had abandoned me. In fact, I took much comfort in praying Christ’s prayer from the cross, “My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?” (e.g. Mk 15:24).

Yet in the midst of my pain and feelings of abandonment, God was there. He had commanded His mighty army of angels to surround me and protect me. Of this, I am thoroughly convinced looking back at that time.

Too many circumstances aligned seeing me through the darkness for it to be mere chance. God’s hand and His angelic army were at work. This was true even though I had more in common with Elisha’s servant than the prophet.

I remember one encounter promptly after a “friend” had lit into me calling me. A prophetic individual stopped me in the hallway at church–just moments after that awful conversation–and he shared a prophetic word about my life. It is a word still coming true today.

One piece of this prophetic word was how I would have more ministry coming out of this dark valley than I would have before going through it. I see that coming true both in my professional chaplaincy as well as in this blog ministry. His words were true.

And he told me that this “friend” did not have the mind of Christ towards me. That word alone was extremely helpful at a time I needed to hear such an encouragement.

It is tempting in the midst of pain to only see the armies of our enemies surrounding us. We see how naturally things look bleak to impossible.

I know. I’ve been there.

However…

God is not dead.

He is at work–even and maybe especially–in the darkness. However, we need spiritual eyes to see.

My hope for each one of you is that you may see His armies engaged on your behalf. May you see Him sending godly men or women to encourage you as He did for me. And may your earthly eyesight be exchanged for spiritual eyesight that sees God’s armies are always vastly more powerful than any earthly or demonic force arrayed against you.