Open My Eyes
Seeing beyond what is in front of us to the faithfulness of God
2 Kings 6:17 — “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Opening Reflection
Sometimes the problem isn't that we can't see. The problem is that we can't see everything that's there. Elisha's servant could see the enemy perfectly well. When he stepped outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. What he saw was real. The danger wasn't imaginary, and Elisha didn't pretend otherwise. But the servant drew his conclusion from only what his physical eyes could see. He could see the army surrounding them, but he couldn't yet see the God whose provision surrounded the army.
Taking a Devotional View
When the frightened servant cried, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:15–16). Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17). God did not immediately remove the enemy. Instead, He first enabled the servant to see something that had been there all along. Suddenly the young man saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. God's provision had been present before the servant became aware of it. What changed wasn't God's presence—it was the servant's awareness of His presence.
We need that same prayer. We can become so focused on what is immediately in front of us that we mistake what we can see for all that is true. We see the unexpected expense, the strained relationship, the uncertain future, or the seemingly impossible circumstance. Those things may be very real, but they are not the whole reality. God has promised His presence (Hebrews 13:5), and He continues working even when His purposes are hidden from us (Romans 8:28). The psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18), and Paul prayed that “the eyes of your hearts” would be enlightened so believers could understand the hope of God's calling (Ephesians 1:18). Perhaps one of the most important prayers we can pray is simply, “Lord, open my eyes.” Open my eyes to Your truth in Your Word. Open my eyes to Your presence when I feel alone. Open my eyes to Your provision when I see only what I lack. Open my eyes to Your faithfulness when circumstances tempt me to fear. I may not be able to see everything You are doing, but help me never mistake what I can see for all that is true.
Key Thoughts & Takeaways
Key Thoughts
- What we can see isn't always all that is there; Elisha's servant saw the enemy before God enabled him to see His provision (2 Kings 6:15–17).
- God may change our perspective before He changes our circumstances, reminding us that His presence remains with us even when we cannot see what He is doing (Hebrews 13:5).
- Spiritual sight depends upon God opening our understanding to His truth, His hope, and His work in our lives (Psalm 119:18; Ephesians 1:18).
Ask Yourself
- What situation am I presently viewing only through what I can see?
- Have I allowed my circumstances to become larger in my thinking than God's presence and faithfulness?
- What would it look like for me to pray, “Lord, open my eyes,” about that situation today?
Father, open my eyes. When problems seem larger than Your provision, help me see them through the truth of who You are. When I read Your Word, show me the wondrous truths You want me to understand. When fear narrows my vision to what is immediately in front of me, remind me that what I see is not all that is true. Help me trust Your presence when I cannot see Your hand and Your faithfulness when I do not understand Your plan. Give me eyes of faith to see my circumstances in the light of who You are. Amen.