Blinded for His sake

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand[c] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. -Acts 22

Saul was at the moment blind and unable to lead himself on his own. Rather he needed help from others to guide him and ultimately allow himself to be led by the Lord because of his lack of sight. In another sense, the glory of the light was both so strong that in terms of physical and spiritual reality, he could only sense and act on the Lord's voice. He was compelled by the glory of the light to follow the Lord's order.

Oftentimes I am distracted by circumstances whether they are things in my external surroundings, internal stirrings, or motivations such as pride, ambition, envy, selfishness, or self-condemnation. The list can go on. There are many ways and reasons we may be veered in one direction or another, and sometimes it takes something as dramatic as being knocked down to the ground to recognize God's power. It is His glorious light that blinds us to everything around us, but it is all that we need to be led. In that regard, it is helpful to be blinded, for then our vision is not so much taken away as it is further clarified. We should always strive to seek His glorious light at all times, and it shouldn't have to require being knocked down.