We’re familiar with the expression “Love is blind” referring to romantic love’s inclination to see no faults in one’s beloved. But, in truth, all our emotions have the tendency to cloud our judgment and create spiritual blind spots. How often does our anger over past wrongs inhibit our ability to see a person’s growth when he or she may be trying to improve? Similarly, fear about the unknown may make us unwilling to embrace changes that could benefit others and us.
It’s interesting that while offering us grace, God nonetheless insists on having us see Truth. Fortunately, however, the Lord is an expert at delivering the truth when and how we can actually take it in. As Jesus explained to His disciples at the Last Supper, “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend [the Holy Spirit] comes, the Spirit of Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is” (John 16:12-13 The Message).
This is why I picture God as the Master Interventionist.
We think of interventions in the context of family and friends gathering in love to confront someone about his or her addiction. We hope that the combination of a strong united message and a history of long time affection will enable the beloved to face their self-destructive behavior and accept help.
In the same way, I have felt God challenge me over my spiritual blind spots. Sometimes a gentle nudging emerges about some area of my life that I have put on the back burner for any number of reasons. Other times it may feel like a hammer on the head! But always the confrontation does not center on guilt so much as it points me to a way to get better. As I engage in making changes (and reparations), I feel both God’s support and peace, even when the road proves hard and scary. The work is freeing and strengthens my bond with my Lord.
Of course, not every intervention works immediately or perfectly. Each time I actually do uncover a blind spot, I look back at my past with a certain amount of, “How could I have ever done that, or thought that?”
Then my next thought is, “What, Lord, am I still blind about?”
That’s when I have to remind myself that the Master Interventionist knows when I’ll be able to handle the next piece of truth.
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