When the Road Ahead Is Foggy
Recently, I was driving to the gym with my daughter and it was incredibly foggy. It seemed like the further we traveled, the thicker the fog became. I couldn't see properly, so I sharpened my focus to avoid hitting anything or hurting anyone. Although I had driven in the fog before, this time it felt as though the Lord wanted to impart something to me. This month’s theme for Women in Community is “I Cannot Keep Silent,” so I wanted to share with you what the Father has shown me.
The Lord brought to mind the many times when I had been confused or had trouble seeing things clearly. So often, I had runto the phone instead of running to the throne.
During those moments, all I wanted was a prompt response. Not long ago, I found myself in this exact situation. On June 15, 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer. I became full of doubts, felt numb, and was filled with uncertainty. My emotions ran the gamut from astonishment, wrath, and fear to apathy, grief, and disbelief. I had no idea what to anticipate. It was as if I were watching another person's life unfold in front of me. My road became foggy.
Isaiah 41:10 has encouraged me: “Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you” (MSG). I knew that this passage would serve as my compass as I made my way toward recovery, no matter how thick the cancer's fog became. Instead of turning to everyone around me, I sharpened my focus on God, studied the Bible, prayed, and meditated more than I ever had done in the past. I praise God that today I am in remission and have returned to all my normal activities! Although I’m experiencing some lingering effects from the cancer and treatment, I am confident that as I continue to keep my focus on God and His Word, full recovery is imminent!
So often when we have fog-like moments, we allow panic to set in and we reach out to people for comfort, assurance, hope, knowledge, and wisdom. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is wise if we reach out to the Lord first and seek Him above all else. Proverbs 3:5–6 is another passage that fueled my faith. It tells us to rely entirely on the Lord and not on our own wisdom. Once we do, He will clear our paths before us.
When all is going well, it can be easy to trust God. The road before us is clear and we know where we are going. However, the same degree of faith should be shown when we are lost in the fog and unsure of how to pay our bills, we have to look for another job, or we receive a devastating diagnosis. Hebrews 13:5 reassures us that our Savior will never leave us, even in the face of seemingly few (if any) solutions or hope. It might be difficult to stay focused on God in these circumstances, but we have an option: we can give in to our fears and sink, or we can choose to place all of our worries and anxieties on our Savior and He will raise us up. At one time or another, we all will encounter “fog” as we proceed on our spiritual journeys. Even though at times our vision may be obscured and it may seem that God is not saying anything, we can rest assured that He is still active and working things out for our good.
Recall the story of Queen Esther. She and her people were being threatened with extinction, but amidst the fear and God’s seeming silence, she waited and remained faithful to do what she knew to do. Finally, at God’s perfect time, the mist cleared for her and she was instructed what to do. Because she obeyed, God’s people were spared. He will do the same for you. The same God who presided from His throne then also presides now. He is aware of your final destination and place of victory. He knows whether or not the location is prepared for your arrival yet. He knows if the path ahead is still safe for you to travel. He is aware that you might not be ready for everything you will face along the route. Sometimes He sends a fog that obscures our view. In those times, we wait on Him. At the appropriate moment, He will clear the mist so that we can proceed safely.
It's important to remember that we are never alone. The apostle Peter gives us a mandate to humble ourselves before the Lord and to cast all of our cares upon Him. That’s easy when we remember how deeply He cares for us. (See 1 Peter 5:6–7). Similarly, the apostle Paul encourages us:
God does not desire burdens and anxieties to weigh us down. Lift your eyes to your heavenly Father whenever you find yourself facing a foggy day. As Hebrews 12:2 states, "God is the author and finisher of our faith." Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him, and slowly but surely, we will arrive safely to our intended destination.