Beyond the giants

It’s inspiring to think about how our parents successfully juggled raising us while managing home, community, and faith. With five children still at home and a two-year age range, there was always an event that needed to be attended, a church function to work, or a school happening to prepare for. It must have seemed like a whirlwind, yet they maintained a vision that held us together as a family.
Our parents were our guiding lights, leading by example. The old-fashioned “my word is my bond,” and the belief in the binding agreement of a handshake were not just sayings to them – they were a way of life. These values were the foundation of our upbringing. Our parents instilled in us the value of hard work, faith in the Lord, compassion for others, and the ability to maintain a vision beyond our current situations, to see beyond what our eyes perceive.
Helen Keller once said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” I often wondered how a woman, blind and deaf, could have such incredible insight. It is because she had the remarkable ability to see beyond her current situation. Young Keller learned the difference between sight and vision thanks to the insightful Anne Sullivan. With the new possibilities, Helen Keller refused to live in a box created by the limitations. She discovered her purpose in life.
Much like Keller, we often have man-made barriers that block our purpose, closing our eyes to God’s vision. These barriers prevent us from seeing the bigger picture of our Heavenly Father’s plans. We often hear the voices of the world that tell us we are unfit or incapable. Yet, the Lord’s plans are of prosperity and hope for a future (Jeremiah 29:11). The critical words of the world will often skew our sight. Conversely, the words of scripture will repair our sight, giving us a renewed vision.
The children of Israel understood this “having sight but no vision” concept. When they were released from Egyptian captivity, the Lord gave them the vision of a promised land. Their hearts were set for Canaan. However, even though God continued to show them miracles, they began to doubt the vision. On the outskirts of the promise, they heard the report of the giants of the land, and fear overtook them. The original people leaving Egypt never crossed into the land flowing with milk and honey. However, Caleb and Joshua maintained God’s vision. They led a new generation across the Jordan River into Canaan (Exodus-Joshua).
Scripture reads that no man has seen or heard what the Lord has in store for those who love Him. Our hearts cannot imagine the Father’s devotion to His children (1st Corinthians 2:9). He is devoted to us. He has called us more than conquerors. He has promised to fight our battles if we trust in Him. The Lord has called us to be on top of situations, not beneath them. We are called leaders, not followers (Deuteronomy 28:13).
We are visionary people. Nothing in this world can steal our vision when we reset eternity within our hearts. Heaven is our Canaan, and we need to regain our vision of it. We are a people with a purpose, and we will not perish (Proverbs 29:18), but we will enter into the promises of our Lord. Remember, sight is the ability to see, but vision is the ability to believe beyond the giants.
Jeremiah 33:3: ‘Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.