Being legally blind in one eye, having glaucoma in the other eye, and having significant visual field cuts due to dementia, it isn’t always easy for me to maintain my focus, even in the best of times. The fact that I have developed the habit of closing my eyes so that I only see the ground under my feet makes the problem exponentially worse. Add in to the formula falling snow and snow-covered sidewalks and roads, and you have a perfect recipe for me to have problems staying on the right path.

It shouldn’t have been a problem that day, however. I was, after all, walking with my wife and dog. I should have been just fine. The problem was, I didn’t keep my eyes on them. As a result, I found myself wondering aimlessly several times. And when my wife tried to call me back, saying I had gone the wrong way, I didn’t believe her! Several times she had to come running back to me to get me back on the right path.

From her perspective, the snow-covered sidewalk wasn’t wide enough for us to walk side by side, and when she offered me her hand, I refused to take it. Therefore she was walking slightly ahead to show the way; but the hood of her jacket cut off her peripheral vision, and her ear muffs, along with the dampening effect of snow, made it hard for her to hear my steps. One time she found herself an entire block away from me before she noticed I wasn’t following.

I am very thankful that my wife didn’t get angry at me. She understood my limitations and simply tried to guide me back to the right path. It turned out to be a very long walk, what with all of those unnecessary extra steps from me turning around so often, but we did finally make it back home exhausted.

The Bible tells us to keep our eyes upon Jesus: “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NIV). It is only by following His lead that we allow Him to guide us in the paths of righteousness: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Ps. 23:3b NIV). Otherwise we are so easily led astray.

Although that sounds easy enough, it is harder than you think. We all suffer periods of “spiritual blindness” in the best of times; and when our path is littered with distractions, things like illness, loss of job, relationship problems, etc., it makes it even harder to see where He is leading us. Of course, He sees us stray long before my wife saw that I had strayed; and He calls out to us. But just like I didn’t believe my wife when she called out to tell me I was on the wrong path, sometimes we don’t want to believe that we have strayed. Maybe we like the path we are on, or maybe we are just too spiritually drained to be able to do anything different!

The good news is, Jesus doesn’t get angry at us, “…for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14 NIV). He just continues to pursue us, like the good shepherd, leaving behind the 99 in search of the 1, always watching the road hoping we will turn around and respond to His call.

How can we safeguard ourselves from taking our eyes off of Jesus?

1. We ask Him to help us focus on Him and to make us aware the moment we have strayed. Remember, God wants us to succeed and won’t ask anything of us that He isn’t willing to give us the power to do!

2. We ask Him to give us the desire to follow Him.

3. In the midst of trials, we draw our eyes up above the trouble and focus on the One who can stop the storm.

4. We understand and accept that we walk the path on our own, we need Him!

And perhaps the best piece of advice, straight from Hebrews 12:

5. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3 NIV). This means we need to meditate on Jesus, contemplate how much He suffered and endured. For when we do, it is promised that we will not grow wearing or lose heart!

I think I will try and accept my wife’s hand the next time we go out for a walk in the snow. And maybe I’ll spend more time meditating on Jesus and His suffering, so that the next time the wind and waves of trouble hit my path, I won’t be so likely to shift my eyes from Him!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries