I hadn’t seen her that excited in a long time.

Mom moved up and down the stairs, speaking in a hushed tone with whoever was on the other side of the line, striving to hide the details of my birthday surprise.

She acted as if I had no idea of her plans.

I smiled at the thought of how it does not matter whether our children and four or forty –  They’ll always be little in our eyes.

When the time came to leave the house, she approached me with a blindfold.

“From now on, you cannot see where you are going,” she said.

I hesitantly agreed.

There’s very little I hate more than not knowing where I am heading.

I don’t like the feeling of dependence on senses other than my sight for the next step. And I am afraid that whoever is holding my arm will pull a prank on me… or let me stomp my foot on a stone… or that I will trip and fall by accident.

I know – I am trusting that way. Sigh.

But… it was Mom leading the way. Therefore, I extended my arm, took her hand and put on the blindfold. I knew that however uncomfortable the momentary darkness might feel; she would not allow me to fall.

And the pleasure and joy I would find when the darkness was lifted, would be worth it all.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 – KJV)

I don’t know about you, but this blind trust issue gets me every time. And it seems as if God is always in the process of taking me to the next level of trust on the unseen.

We go through trials affirming our trust in our God of Provision, Healing, Comfort and Peace. We hold on to the Rock of our Salvation and cross the valleys, rivers, high and lows holding on to His Hand.

And we watch Him deliver us time and time again.

But when the next time of testing comes and we feel the ground underneath our feet shake… or, worse yet, when God holds out a blindfold once again and whispers – “Come” – our first response is often… fear and doubt.

What if I fall?

What if I get lost?

What if what is waiting on the other side of this cloud is disappointing?

What if it hurts?

What if I lose something or someone?

What if I have to move from my comfort zone?

What if?

I know, I know… you’re probably nodding in agreement. We all feel that way one time or another.

But don’t beat yourself up quite yet. Because it’s ok to doubt and hesitate for a moment before stepping forward into the darkness.

After all, I cannot imagine that Abraham’s heart immediately sang hallelujahs when God asked him to sacrifice his long-awaited son. Or that Joseph instantly rejoiced in the Lord when he was wronged time and again for 13 long years.

You know they had to struggle before agreeing to step into the darkness. You know they did.

But the eleventh chapter of Hebrews teaches us the secret of their victorious, (however blind) faith. And the secret is on this very first verse:

Now faith is the substance (or assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (or forward vision) of things not seen.

Or, as Dr. J. Oswald Sanders once said: “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

The secret is understanding that true faith is not emotional. It does not grab on to wishful thinking. Rather, true biblical faith is based on the Word of God, our experiences with Yahweh, the Covenant God (hint, hint), and on the unwavering knowledge that He.is.good.

That’s faith that accepts the blindfold not as a hindrance, but rather as a tool used by God to strengthen our spiritual muscles and validate our testimony.

[bctt tweet=”Faith accepts the blindfold as a tool used to strengthen our spiritual muscles and testimony.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Another Blindfold Experience

Today – God knows – I stand once more at the brink of another chapter where God is handing me a blindfold, extending His Mighty Hands, and inviting me to step into the unknown.

But the truth is –  it’s the Unknown to me, never to Him.

Just as my mom knew exactly where she was taking me when all I could see was the dark, I rest on the absolute certainty that I can trust my Daddy’s Sovereign, Loving hands.

“Trust me again,” He says. “I call My people to walk by faith, NOT by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

And Because I know… and I’ve seen His deliverance more times than I can count…

And Because His Word reminds me that His way is perfect… and that He is a Shield for all who take refuge in Him. (2 Samuel 22:31)

I say ‘Yes,’ Lord.

I say Yes.

I trust you, yet again… at the edge of the unknown.