Unseen (the story behind the story)

For everything we CAN see, there is so much more that hides below the surface. Every person we see or meet is going through something. Every relationship has levels of permission and levels of disclosure. Even the closest of friends may hide some pieces of their story from each other.

God knows each part of our story. Nothing is hidden from Him. He wants to walk with us in life’s joys and sorrows. He longs to pull us out of the darkness when we’re struggling. 

UNSEEN is one of the dramatic performances my daughter’s ballet company does every few years. This story goes “behind the scenes” of two families. One couple faces devasting loss, going through overwhelming grief and depression. One couple watches their child struggle with addiction, fearing for her life, feeling hopeless. Each family is given a gift as the veil lifts and they see into the unseen world. 

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:15-17

The darkness pulls at us. The sin that easily entangles refuses to give up the fight. In order to take the hand of the Savior, we must let go of our sins. We have to trust that God is strong enough to break the chains, carry us to safety, and heal the pain. Seeing the way out can be the greatest challenge of all. God promises to provide one (2 Corinthians 10:13) but action is required. Perhaps we should begin by praying for our eyes to be opened.