Job 42:1–6
This past weekend Lori and I slipped away with some friends to the mountains of Tennessee. If you’ve been there this time of year, you know the beauty is breathtaking. But on our first morning, something unexpected greeted us: fog. Thick fog. We stood near the top of the mountain, knowing an incredible view was just beyond the ridge, but all we could see was a wall of white. The world was still there—it was simply hidden from our sight.
But as the morning unfolded, something beautiful happened. The sun rose. Light broke through. Slowly, the fog began to thin, then lift, and eventually disappear altogether. What had been obscured only minutes earlier became clear and vivid again. The mountains hadn’t moved; our vision had.
Job’s journey reminds me of that morning. For much of the book, Job struggles to see clearly. Much of his experience was similar to standing in thick fog. His suffering appears to cloud his sight. And all his unanswered questions seem to obscure the landscape of God’s goodness.
In short, his grief makes it difficult to see beyond the moment he was in. But in time, God spoke. Not to explain every detail…but simply to reveal Himself to Job.
In Job 42:2, he declares, “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
That confession doesn’t come because Job suddenly understands everything. It comes because the fog in his soul has lifted and he sees God again.
A few verses later he says, “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.”
That’s clarity. That’s sunlight breaking through the fog.
What changes Job wasn’t new information, it was renewed vision.
He realizes God had been sovereign all along, even when the view was obscured. He realizes God had been present all along, even when He felt silent. He realizes God’s purposes were still unfolding, even when the path was hidden.
And isn’t that often the story of our lives as well? We walk through seasons where all we can see is the fog—uncertainty, loss, unanswered prayers, unexpected turns. We strain our eyes to understand what God is doing. We try to make sense of the landscape of our circumstances. But clarity doesn’t come from what we figure out. Clarity comes when God helps us see Him again.
Just like that Tennessee sunrise, there are moments when the Holy Spirit gently pushes back the clouded places in our hearts. Not always all at once, but enough for us to see Him…enough for us to trust Him…enough for our souls to steady in His presence.
Clarity doesn’t always come when the situation changes.
Clarity often comes when God clears the fog inside us.
My hope is that you’ll be encouraged today to see clearly! And that even in the midst of potential chaos, that God’s presence will bring you comfort and hope.
Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, I need you today! In the midst of the fog of this day (the chaos, the confusion, the challenges, etc.), would you come close and reveal yourself to me? Help me rest in Your sovereignty today. Teach me to trust you, even when I cannot see what You are doing. Clear the fog in my soul, and let Your presence bring the clarity my heart longs for. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
I hope this has encouraged you. I’m grateful for you. Thanks for taking time to visit this blog. Have a great day!
Chuck
If you’d like to explore this passage more deeply, you can find my full sermon, CLARITY IN CHAOS, on the Resources page of this website.