My husband and I traveled our way home from an appointment one recent morning through fog. This wasn’t one of those hazy kind of fogs. This was a dense, can’t-see-the-front-of-your-vehicle kind of fog. We had a twenty-five mile trip home on a highway that cut right through beautiful farmland. Twenty-five miles of big, deep hills with big, deep ditches.
The thick fog hid every bit of the landscape. All the familiar landmarks had disappeared. Suddenly, a path we had traveled countless times became completely unfamiliar. It wasn’t as though the landmarks had changed; it was just our visibility of them that had changed. It was the same twenty-five miles we had always driven. It was the same rolling hills, the same big, open farm fields.
Nothing had changed. Nothing had moved. We just couldn’t see it, but it was all there. We wouldn’t even question that fact. Yet, there we were, questioning ourselves. Had we gone by that house yet? Did we pass by the cattle? Wait, wasn’t that field before that house? Did we miss our turn? Nothing seemed so certain anymore.
We couldn’t just stop in the middle of a foggy road, so we continued to slowly move along, mile by mile until we came upon our turn off the highway we’d used for years. It was there, as it always had been. A few more gravel covered miles, and we were home.
There are times in our lives when we clearly see God’s hand in our lives. He is close. We can feel Him. We see Him at work. We see Him guiding us, and we are happy and content.
There are also times when it is not like that at all. Doubt creeps in, as it does for every one of us at some point, and suddenly we are questioning things we knew to be true. We are unhappy and confused.
He does not feel close. We aren’t even sure if He is listening. We are groping in the fog for the way. We doubt Him when we know better. We forget He is good when we know better. We forget He is faithful when we know better.
Given the chance, we would all prefer to live by sight. But fog happens. Fog doesn’t change the truth though. We still know what is there, what is real and we know what is true.
God has not forgotten us. He has not forgotten the promises He has made to us.
God is unchanging. His faithfulness is everlasting, even when we forget. He is working behind the scenes in so many ways we can’t even imagine. We can be sure He is with us. We have been promised He will never leave us.
We will all hit patches of fog in our journeys. We won’t always be able to see and understand the path ahead, but go forward anyway in faith. This place, this fog, has a purpose. It will not last; it will lift.
God will guide us when we cannot see. We can trust Him when we can’t make sense of the situation. We can hold onto Him while we are walking through the fog. So remember where your help comes from.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
God will guide us when we can not see. We can trust Him when we can’t make sense of the situation. - Jennifer Ueckert: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Thank you I needed to hear this x Praying God will make his plans known and forgive me for doubting, self loathing and getting off track. Praying God will help me to feel and experience his closeness again, I know in my heart He is still here it is me that has lost sight and has been wallowing in fear and believing the doubts…no more!!
Wonderful article! I wanted to post it to Facebook. Thank you so much!
Thank you so very much, Jacqueline! We appreciate that!
Jas,
Praying for you sweet sister. I know life is hard now. May God guide your thesis & give you a great job. He has provided before & He will do it again!
Blessings 🙂
“No more!” Amen to that! Joining in prayer with you, Jas.
Jas,
God has already forgiven you for your doubting. “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.” And self-loathing? “Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). Hold those lies up to the Truth and if they don’t match up, kick the enemy and his lies to the curb!! You are His beloved and He delights over you with singing…that’s Truth!
Blessings and ((Hugs)),
Bev xo
Bless You, O Lord! You never change, and we can trust You! Jennifer, thank you for pointing us through the fog back to Him!
You are most welcome, friend. Thank you! xo
I noticed lately that both faith (Hebrews 11) and hope (Romans 8) are contrasted with sight in the Bible. How amazing is that when I keep praying for an aerial view of my entire life and an outline containing at least the next few months’ agenda.
“Fog Happens.” -> This is such wisdom, and your words give me hope in this season’s fog bank.
Blessings to you!
That is amazing, Michele! So grateful these words gave you hope through your fog. Praying for you!
Jennifer,
The fog…what an apt analogy for us having to trust God’s guidance when WE cannot see. God promises to be a “lamp unto our feet” – showing us the path step, by step, by step. He doesn’t promise to turn on the “high beams” and give us a grand look at what’s up ahead. For me, having the patience to walk in the fog, trusting Him one step at a time has always been a challenge. After many years traveling many foggy roads, I have learned that He is faithful to get me where He wants me to go and there is peace in that confidence. Wonderfully encouraging post!!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you, Bev! It is a challenge for me as well. But hopefully as we will keep learning, it will get easier! xo
This is the perfect way to begin my Saturday. I’m looking out on a gray, cloudy day wishing for sunshine but forgetting it’s where it’s always been just like our Father. When He says “I am always with you”, you can hold to this promise as absolute truth. Thank you for the blessing of your words this morning, Jennifer.
Hold that promise as absolute truth… yes and amen to that! Thank you, Mary!
A few years ago I wrote about a different kind of fog, the kind we impose on ourselves. The answer is the same, God is there and He is for us in His faithfulness to us, but sometimes we just can’t see it.
http://www.kathycheek.com/2016/08/a-self-imposed-fog.html
Yes, Kathy, we do create our own fog! And isn’t it wonderful the answer is the same… He is there and faithful!
Oh, how I needed to hear this today! Thank you, Jennifer, for a word picture that describes how I feel lately… and for a message of Truth. I am encouraged!
Oh I am so happy that you are encouraged, Michelle! Praying for you as He guides you through the fog.
Jennifer,
I was in the fog for a few years. Caring for my aging father was hard. I never knew what to expect or what the next step would be. God guided me through that time & graciously took dad home to be with Him. This year I needed His guidance once again. I got laid off at a part time job. This time my faith was stronger & I knew I could trust Him completely. Lysa Terkeurst said in her book “It’s Not supposed to be this way”: God doesn’t expect us to hand this situation He wants us to hand it over to Him. That may be why He allows the fog. He wants us to put our trust in Him completely. We want to know each step of the way. What step is next & He is asking for us to place our faith in Him & His timing.
Blessings 🙂
Yes, exactly so true, Beth. He does want us to put our trust completely in Him. He works in awesome and mysterious ways!
Jennifer,
Thank-you so much putting this together so well. The fog that’s rolled into my life these past weeks has slowly been lifting, with Hope in the unseen.
Romans 8:24-25
“For in this Hope we were saved; but Hope that is seen is no Hope at all. Who Hopes for what he can already see? But if we Hope for what we do not yet already see, we wait for it patiently.”
I Hope that you all have a blessed day,
Penny
I am so grateful to hear your fog is lifting, Penny! Keep that hope!
Amen,Penny! We hope for the unseen, not what is already seen! Every night when I pray, I look up into the same area of the sky. Sometimes I see the stars there, in their appointed places. During the winter they are frequently hidden from view by clouds, fog, rain or snow. I always acknowledge to God that they are there, because I know for certain that all nature follows His commands and purposes, always maintaining the course He set for them. Only we humans, it seems, choose to go off on our paths and seek our own purposes and destiny. I remind myself that the Lord already has set our courses and purposes, and without fail, His plan is always better than anything I could dream up! It helps me to trust Him quietly, patiently, and rest in the peace and reassurance that He only wants what is best for us, will never leave nor abandon us, and that He is doing the preparatory work behind the scenes to deliver our blessings in His perfect timing! My hope is focused on the unseen! Praise His Holy Name!! He is always faithful, and is full of Grace and Mercy! I hope my comments make sense to everyone, and pray God will bless you all in the paths He has set for you!
The hidden stars are a great example for this, Linda! Beautifully said. Thank you so much for sharing. And God bless you in the path He has set for you!
Thank you so so much for this, timely encouragement.
I love when a message is so timely! Thank you, Zoe!
I sensed God speaking to me through your words, Jennifer; “I have not forgotten you; I have not forgotten My promises. Remember, I am unchanging; My faithfulness is everlasting. I am working behind the scenes in so many ways you can’t even imagine. So go forward in faith, knowing that this fog has purpose. It will not last; it will lift.” We know these truths, based as they are on scripture. But it’s a fresh shot of adrenalin to hear/read them in a fresh way. Thank you!
Oh Nancy, thank you so very much. He is speaking to me through your words of encouragement!
Amen, Nancy!!
Jennifer, thank you. “God will guide us when we cannot see. We can trust Him when we can’t make sense of the situation. We can hold onto Him while we are walking through the fog.” Fogs can come for such a variety of reasons…really appreciate this reminder.
They sure do come for a variety of reasons! I am grateful this served as a reminder for you today, Pearl!
Yes, you’ve articulated so well where I have been both in scenario and metaphor. I’d like to use your analogy as a part of a sermon on immanuel, god with us, I’ve been asked to do. Hope that’s OK.
Grateful my message is something you would like to pass on, Davina. Thank you.
I feel this in my marriage right now. Just walking in the dense fog, not sure where we are heading. Hubby Paul and I have been married for 25 years and it seems we are at a standstill in our marriage. We don’t talk like we used to, share this life like we used to. Instead, we do our own things. I take care of the kids all the time. Taking them to all of their after school events even though we both work. Paul just come home and watch TV until dinner is ready and back to watching TV afterwards. I love him greatly and just want him to help out without me asking every single day. Guess all this builds resentments on my part and I find myself more angry with each passing day. He’s always willing to help out upon me asking but why must I ask every time. I know it’s me and not him. I need to just let go and I guess go with the flow and not expect so much. Lord, give me patience and the ability to understand that this is just a season of my life. This life is temporary and I know I shouldn’t let these petty things/issues to tempt me into thinking otherwise.
I am sorry, Maylee. That is so incredibly frustrating. I will be praying for you to find your way through this fog. May you find peace and patience in the waiting.
This was appropriate for me today 🙁 my son had been in San Diego at basic training for 4 months now, he got hurt at week 6. We don’t know if he will finish or when. It’s the hardest thing I have had to go through.
I am sorry to hear that, Cris. Basic training is so hard! Praying it is not too serious so he can continue. Grateful for his heart of service to this country!
So true! His plans for me are a bit foggy right now. What I thought was His clear path, just isn’t. Although I know I’m on the correct path now, it is foggy. That’s a perfect word to describe it! The funny thing is the current path is the one I’ve been on, but now the future looks foggy. Not to Him, of course! He knows what He’s doing! And I can trust in that. I can lean into that. Faith in His plan is my fog light. He is my fog light, my Light to see through the fog. Thanks, Jennifer!
That is a beautiful way to look at it, Tara! He is your fog light! Praying as you journey through this path.
Jennifer,
Very well said! I have suffered so much with depression over the past 7 years and I have described it as a fog, a very dense fog….one where you cannot see even your hand in front of your face….the loneliness, the feeling that God is so very far away…..BUT, He has brought me through each and every time to the light…..and revealed Himself to me, that no matter how I feel, He is with me and is holding onto me and guiding me through. My faith grows in the fog, though I am unaware of it at the time, but once through I eventually become aware that He has done something deep in me.
Blessings,
Donna
Oh that is a beautiful thing, Donna. Thank you so much for opening up to share your story so we all may be encouraged by it. Praise Him!