Seeing Through the Fog — The Antioch Initiative

"Faith is like radar which sees through the fog—the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see."

- Corrie ten Boom

In January the fog in North India can be paralyzing. Some mornings one cannot see more than ten yards away. This makes driving extremely hazardous. I have many friends who have been badly hurt due to accidents caused by fog on the roads. Landing an airplane can be even more dangerous. Flight cancellations and long train delays are commonplace in heavy North Indian fog.

The fog is dangerous because of what it hides. One never knows for sure what is ahead—what animals, vehicles, or obstacles stand in your vehicle’s path. In the fog, otherwise innocuous obstacles become treacherous when seen too late.

Fog is perhaps most dangerous, though, because it causes us to doubt what we know to be true. Many mornings I looked out our North Indian apartment window and could not see a single building next to ours. I knew there were buildings just 15-20 yards away. I had seen them many times. I had visited friends who lived in them. Yet, on some mornings, all I could see was fog! Did I stop believing that buildings were next door to me? No. Yet sometimes in life the fog of circumstances can tempt us to doubt God and His work in our lives. Corrie ten Boom said, "Faith is like radar which sees through the fog the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see."

As we go through life we may feel like we are walking through fog. Often, we do not understand what is happening all around us. Circumstances occur that we cannot explain. We sometimes feel alone. We sometimes feel like no one cares. We do not see how we are going to make it through the challenges we are facing. Fog!

“Faith is taking the first step when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

When fog surrounds us, God wants to give us faith to see Him and faith to take the next step of obedience. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. challenges, “Faith is taking the first step when you don’t see the whole staircase.” We long to see as far ahead as possible, certainly the next several steps ahead, yet life often does not grant us that luxury. In those times of intense fog, we can be assured of God’s presence and goodness. We can trust God’s leading for the next step.

In the midst of fog God wants to assure us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.[1] Just because we cannot see clearly does not mean that God is not working in us and in our circumstances. “Even when I can’t see it, You’re working; even when I can’t feel it, You’re working. You never stop. You never stop working.”[2] While in fog, keep believing what God made very clear to you during clear skies!

[1] Hebrews 13:8

[2] “Waymaker” by Sinach