““Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.”
–Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV)

Neither my wife nor I can drive, and since we can’t see, that should be great news for you. If we did try to drive, we would surely cause a ten-car pile-up. Too often we major on the minors, making small things seem more important than they really are. We all have limitations, but the Bible tells us that Jesus has overcome them all.

For example, the other night Stephanie called our ride so that we could get to our appointment, and the next day the driver called to let us know that he was waiting outside. I stood at the edge of the driveway and listened, but I couldn’t hear anything besides singing birds. I wondered if the driver had really arrived. Had he been delayed somehow?

I almost turned around to go back in the house. But just then, I heard the click of an opening car door. “Oh, I didn’t know you were here!” I said in surprise. When the driver apologized profusely, I told him not to worry. I said if he wanted to be philosophical about it, most things in life are right in front of us, and we don’t know it.

During the past few days I’ve been mulling this little story over in my mind, and today I turned my thoughts to God. The Bible tells us that He is always close at hand, even when He seems to be quite far away. But if we really believed this and didn’t live by our feelings, it would make a huge difference. The Bible goes on to say that if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and we believe God has raised him from the dead, we will be saved. Still another scripture tells us that this same Jesus sticks closer than a brother.

Real blindness, then, is not merely a physical problem. It is the blindness of the heart which disables people in the long run. But God can see the big picture, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

In His kingdom, God wants to take what the world calls disability, and turn it into ability for His glory. We know this because He has done that in our lives, and He can do the same for you.

So today, if you find yourself feeling alone and discouraged, ask God to open your spiritual eyes. His Word says that we can do all things through Christ, so you can know that in Him you are more than a conqueror. You may not see everything coming together at every turn. Often, God has to change our hearts before He can give us His best. But you can know that God is faithful, and He is always working behind the scenes.

So instead of relying on feelings, I encourage you to put your trust in God. Realize that Christ died for you personally, and take a look at the cross in a new way. You can know with confidence that He has overcome your situation, by a careful study of His Word. Pondering what He has already done for you allows your faith to grow, and gives you a new boldness in confronting life.

Jesus said that He is the only way to God, and because he is God, he can make a way through your difficulties where there seems to be none. The only question now is: Will you let him do this in your life?

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Monday night Bible study or Tuesday night prayer meeting. Both are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 712-775-7031, and our ID is 607518748. We hope to talk with you soon!

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.