Faith in Focus
I was reading through Mark 8:22-26 the other day, and it really stuck with me. It’s the story where Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida—but what’s wild is that He does it in two steps, not all at once. That detail has been rattling around in my brain ever since.
Here’s how it goes: Some people bring this blind guy to Jesus, basically begging for help. Jesus takes him by the hand (I always imagine how gentle that must’ve felt) and leads him outside the village. He spits on the man’s eyes and lays His hands on him, then asks, “Can you see anything?” The man’s answer is kind of heartbreaking and hopeful all at once: “I see people—they look like trees walking around.” So, he can see, but it’s blurry, not quite right.
Then Jesus puts His hands on the man’s eyes again. This time, he looks around and everything snaps into focus—he can see clearly. Jesus tells him, “Go home, but don’t go through the village or tell anyone there.” And that’s it.
What gets me every time is the two-stage healing. Jesus could’ve fixed his sight instantly, but He didn’t. It feels like there’s a lesson there, especially for anyone (like me) who wishes spiritual growth worked like flipping a switch.
Sometimes I wonder why I don’t “get it” all at once—why my faith feels blurry, or why I keep asking the same questions over and over. This story reminds me that seeing clearly, in every sense, can take time. That’s not a failure. It’s part of the journey. Jesus didn’t scold the man for only seeing trees at first; He just kept working with him.
It also makes me think about the people in my life who have brought me to Jesus when I couldn’t get there on my own. Sometimes we need someone else to take us by the hand, or at least nudge us in the right direction when we can’t see the way.
And then there’s that verse in Philippians: “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” Healing, clarity, understanding—it’s a process. God doesn’t leave us half-finished.
So if you’re feeling stuck or like your spiritual vision is a little fuzzy, maybe that’s okay. Maybe you’re just in between the first and second touch. Hang in there. God isn’t done with us yet.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your patience with us and for never giving up on our journey toward clarity. Sometimes our vision is blurry and our faith feels weak, but You meet us right where we are and keep working in our hearts. Help us trust the process, even when we don’t understand it, and give us the courage to keep coming back to You for that second touch. Open our eyes—physically, spiritually, and emotionally—so we can see Your love and purpose for our lives more clearly each day. Thank You for walking with us, carrying us when we need it, and finishing the good work You started in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.