When the blind brought me sight

Feb 02, 2024

 Word Made Fresh - Nicholas Lye

In my recent mission trip to Thailand, I got the chance to visit a school for the blind together with my mission team. After introducing ourselves to some of the blind students of the school, we asked them if they had any questions for us. Soon, many hands shot up, along with questions such as: What were we interested to see or do in Thailand, what food did we like, how big is our country, what currency did we use, what is it like to live in our country?

What struck me was how keen and eager they were to take a closer look at our lives, our likes and our experiences despite their limited physical sight. What surprised me was how much they were filled with awe and wonder at our answers, and some even wanted to come to our country to have a ‘glimpse’ of our lives. Their physical disability did not stop them from wanting to look further beyond themselves. In fact, it might also be the very impetus for them to look deeper and beyond what their physical eyes could not capture. Through them, I was seeing the deeper truth of what could be far more important than what our physical eyes can tell us.

How often do we seem to focus only on what we can see and understand before us? How often have we allowed the very things before us to limit our vision of what lies beyond us? How might we have even allowed certain unfortunate situations in our lives put a stop to greater possibilities, or blind us from the greater things God is doing for us? What if the very limitations or failings we face in life are the very things that can bring us deeper and further into the greater plan of God, if only we see through eyes of faith, awe and wonder?

“I know what my plans are for you, plans to save you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and to give you hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

As we got to know the students a little more, we found out that some were born blind, while others got into accidents that caused them to go blind at a later stage in life. Yet, despite their physical challenges, it was heartening to see them not giving up, and learning skills to sustain their livelihood or even provide massage services to others. It was also inspiring to hear of their dreams to go places or sing for people. Through them, I got to witness how they learnt to trust in people they could not see to take care of them or even receive from them. Through their eyes, I got to catch a glimpse of God’s greater invitation to trust in His ways and plans, even if we cannot see or understand them in that moment.

Growing up, I may not have suffered from a physical limitation, but I have often felt judged and rejected for being different, for being too ‘sensitive’ with my emotions, for being too unconventional in the way I do things. Such ‘limitations’ almost prevented me from seeing myself the way God sees me, and celebrating myself the way God created me. Even when things did not seem to go my way in life, it was easy to give up hope and see no future ahead of me. Still, through the love and grace of God, He eventually opened my heart and my eyes to what was possible beyond my sight and imagination. He led me to places and possibilities that my mind could not yet fathom in the early stages. He even used my very ‘limitations’ to bring about greater hope and transformation in the many lives I got to encounter in my missionary journey.

Never would I have seen all that God was doing and wanted to do in and through me, had I not kept my eyes open towards His face.

“You will see greater things” (John 1:50)

In Scripture, Jesus often chooses the poor, the blind, the tax collectors, the prostitutes, or the rejected to reveal greater truths for people who may seem to be materially rich, physically well, or well accepted in society, but may actually be spiritually poor or spiritually blind to the more important things in life. Perhaps God allows limitations in our lives, whether external or internal, to reveal greater truths about the kingdom of God. Whether it may be our own limitations or those of others, perhaps if we take a closer look at what God is revealing to us through these limitations, it may bring newer sight to His greater plans and promises for us.

Through my encounters with the blind students, I am affirmed that regardless of our physical or internal limitations, all of us have a deep yearning for something beyond us. Even if we cannot see or understand what that might look like for the moment, perhaps we can take inspiration and encouragement from the blind to trust in a God we cannot see to not only take care of us, but bring us places. Through the eyes of the blind, perhaps we can look beyond our current situations, and allow eyes of faith, awe and wonder to lead us to what is beyond us, and experience God’s greater plan and promise unfold before our very eyes.


(Nicholas Lye is a lay missionary and creative evangelist who loves to use creativity and various art forms to share the faith and help people encounter God’s truths in a fun and meaningful way.)