I was heading home on a road I’d driven hundreds of times.

The squall came on suddenly and its snow started piling up immediately and quickly. At first, I could see the edges of the road, the dark forms of the trees, and traces of the double-yellow line. But after just a couple of minutes, all I could really see was the falling snow reflecting light from my headlights. With no tire tracks to follow and no confidence that I had not already left the road, I slowed to a crawl. And then, I came to a stop.

No matter where or how hard I looked, there was no trace of where I had been (the tire tracks were filling in as quickly as I could make them) or where I was going.

I was heading home on a road I’d driven hundreds of times. Yet, even as I knew where I was and where I was heading, the snow came in and overwhelmed my sense of place and direction. All I could see was snow. All I could do was pray and wait.

Then, the squall let up. The whiteout lifted. I could see the trees, the ditch, and little reflectors on poles that lined the road. I was able to resume my journey home.

As believers, there are times when we can be blinded by all that is pressing in around us. We know where we are, whose we are, and where we are heading. And yet, all we can see is the snowstorm that has beset us. Sometimes the storm is filled with scary monsters. And sometimes the storm that blinds us is hidden in pleasant evenings and enjoyable company. In any case, with respect to our walk with the Lord, as the storm builds, we slow to crawl and then come to a stop.

In those times, we need wisdom to recognize the storm and to remember that our God is greater than any storm or distraction. And, we need His guidance to find the path again—either by helping us to see through the storm or by His causing the storm to go away.

And so, we pray. We pray, knowing that our God hears and responds and helps.

Even if there is no storm, we pray. We can pray for this church what Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus:

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Ephesians 1:15-19a (NASB)

Grace to you and peace in Christ,

Andrew