Seeing with Our Hearts: Trusting God When Life Feels Unclear

Life does not always make sense, and there are seasons when trusting God feels difficult because the path ahead is unclear.

Scripture speaks directly to these moments. The apostle Paul reminds us that “now we see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our understanding is often limited, but God’s vision is never unclear.

Faith does not require us to see every step ahead. Instead, faith invites us to trust the One who already sees the beginning and the end.

In this reflection, Catherine Wactlar shares a simple morning moment that became a powerful spiritual reminder: even when we cannot see the cross, the finished work of Jesus is still present. And when the fog of life surrounds us, God remains faithful to bring light, hope, and clarity.

 

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! (1 Corinthians 13:12 MSG).

When You Can’t See the Cross: Trusting God in Uncertain Moments

One recent morning I was walking toward the employee entrance at work and saw something that stopped me in my tracks. Rather, I didn’t see something.

I am accustomed to seeing our 40-foot-tall metal cross on a hill with the sunrise creating a beautiful backlight. Sometimes there’s even a bird perched on the crossbeam or at the top. On this particular morning, however, fog had rolled in, and although it is only 100 yards away, I couldn’t see it at all. Not even a hint or outline of it being there.

My next thought was, “Oh well, the sun will burn the fog away later.”

Spiritual Lessons When Life Feels Unclear

The spiritual principles in play occurred to me almost immediately.

• Just because we cannot see the cross, (the completed work of Jesus) right now, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
• Satan is the true source of all things (the fog) that obscure our focus on, or our clear view of Christ.
• Our Savior is the only One who can burn away the fog of sin, shame, self-loathing, and bitterness.

Trusting God When You Cannot See the Way Forward

Have you ever said, “I don’t see a way out of this?” Perhaps the pain of your current situation is so real that you feel like you can’t move. Maybe you wouldn’t know what to do even if you felt like moving.

The Good news is God does and will make a way out when there doesn’t seem to be one. (1 Corinthians 10:13) He will make the crooked paths straight. (Isaiah 45:2) He who sees the end from the beginning has this! And He has you (Isaiah 46:10).

What Faith Looks Like When You Cannot See the Way Forward

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Have you ever been in conversation with someone and wanted to convey you understood what he or she was saying, so you said, “I see?” You didn’t literally see their words; you understood them, you comprehended and perhaps even empathized with them.

Recognizing the Spiritual Battle When Life Feels Clouded

Friends, we need to “see” the enemy for what and who he is, a roaring lion seeking to devour you (1 Peter 5:8). He’s the bully that’s telling you lies, about yourself and others. He’s the one behind the scenes; at times using people we love to hurt us. He’s the one orchestrating the fog to envelop our world. He’s the one getting you to focus on anything, literally anything else, as long as it’s not Jesus.

A Prayer for Spiritual Sight

I want to pray for you right now.

Father God, according to Ephesians 1:18-20, may the beloved person reading this have the eyes of their heart flooded with light by the Holy Spirit, so they may know the hope, (the divine guarantee) to which He has called them, and the riches of His glorious inheritance. That they will begin to know the immeasurable, unlimited and surpassing greatness of his power in those who believe, working together in Christ. It is in His name we pray, amen.

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus When Life Feels Uncertain

Focusing on the verses below and praising in song are two powerful weapons when fog envelops our world.

I Am the Light of the World (John 8:12).

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light (Matthew 6:22).

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and “Cornerstone” are two of my favorite worship songs.

I can report that well before noon, the fog had dissipated and our beautiful cross was visible again. It was just as 1 Corinthians 13:12 promised: “But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun (Son) shines bright!”

There are seasons when the cross feels hidden behind the fog of disappointment, confusion, or pain. In those moments, it may feel difficult to trust what we cannot clearly see.

Yet the truth remains unchanged: Jesus is still present, His work is still finished, and His light still shines.

Trusting God when life feels uncertain does not mean ignoring the fog. It means choosing faith even when our vision feels limited. The same Savior who calmed storms and carried the cross is still guiding every step of your journey.

If you are walking through a season where the way forward feels unclear, take heart. Fix your eyes on Jesus, even when the path looks dim. The One who sees the end from the beginning is leading you, and His light is stronger than any fog we face.