Blind Spot

“…But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” – John 9:25. 

If you want to be a defensive driver, you have to know where the blind spots on your own vehicle are, as well as where they might be on other vehicles. A blind spot is any area immediately surrounding your vehicle that cannot directly be observed by you, the driver, within your normal field of vision. We all know blind spots are dangerous when we’re changing lanes at 70 mph on an interstate highway. But just as critical are the blind spots that block us from seeing the truth about ourselves and others. No one is immune to either kind.

As human beings, we all have blind spots in our lives. These blind spots might result from grief, or doubt or a low sense of worth. Maybe your blind spot is you want to be right or you need to be in control. Maybe your blind spot is not recognizing how much your inability to forgive is negatively impacting your life. Or maybe you have a blind spot in a relationship that hurts someone.  Blind spots are, by definition, invisible to us. No matter how often we’re reminded to “check our blind spots,” we can’t—at least on our own. Our only hope is for God and others to come alongside us and help point them out. Once identified, we can start dealing with them.  

The Bible gives us several examples of people with blind spots. Probably one of the best known is the story of the apostle Paul. When he was still called Saul, he was the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. His blind spot was religious zeal, taken to the extreme. That blind spot was a barrier to the life God wanted him to live. While Saul was walking on the road to Damascus with his cohorts to persecute more followers of Jesus, “a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:3-4) God struck him blind. That blindness lasted three days. Then God sent Ananias to Saul. Ananias prayed over Saul, telling him that God wanted to fill him with the Holy Spirit. “Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.” (Acts 9:18) Once his sight was restored Saul stepped into the calling God had prepared for him. Since God removed his blind spot, everything changed about him. We benefit from that change today. Paul’s letters make up the majority of the New Testament, and they have blessed millions and millions of Christians over the years.  

Spiritual blind spots require you to look in the mirror and see exactly what is going on around you. The good news is that we have the Holy Spirit who lives within us to help us expose those blind spots. Pray that God will show you your blind spots and pray that God will completely remove your blind spots. Ask him to give you the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15-16) as you depend on him to help you overcome your blind spots.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is one spiritual blind spot in your life? 
2. What can you do this week to overcome that?