I Can See Clearly Now (Rev. Kim DuBreuil)
Most of you know I went on vacation to New York in August for a “big” birthday. Two days into my trip, I began losing my eyesight due to a detached retina. I had emergency surgery, followed by two more surgeries over the past five months. The last one was two weeks ago. I’m still waiting for my eyesight to return to normal.
Honestly, I have felt quite vulnerable as I’ve navigated numerous obstacles related to my eyesight. Plus, I have more empathy for many of you who have shared your stories of impaired vision with me.
Typically, I am a positive person. I’m usually smiling, happy, and hopeful. But to be honest, I’ve been in a period of disappointment and overwhelm. So, the only way I’ve been able to snap out of it is by reciting this prayer every morning:
Lord,
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna’ be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
That’s actually a song written in 1972 by Johnny Nash (not Johnny Cash).
During Advent, I thought about the obstacles Mary faced. God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth… Upon entering, Gabriel greeted Mary:
“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”
Mary was deeply shaken, questioning what could have prompted such a greeting. However, the angel reassured her.
“Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you.”
Wow, did God ever! Unless you’ve been completely out of the loop for the past week, you probably know what happened – she became the mother of God.
Mary understood that “Nothing is impossible with God,” and she responded, “Yes, Lord, I see it now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” (Luke 1:26-38, The Message)
- Are you glad the holidays are almost over?
- Have you been overwhelmed?
- What obstacles have you faced over the past year?
- Have you had health concerns, financial losses, or issues involving a loved one or your career?
If you answered Yes to one or more of those questions, you’re not alone. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I like to go outside and look up at the night sky. Did you know that not all the stars in the sky are part of our Milky Way galaxy? Some come from other galaxies, such as Andromeda, which is about 2.5 million light-years away and sometimes visible to the naked eye.
I think about the marvel of God’s creation. Light travels incredibly fast – 186,282 miles per second. Yet on a bright (bright), sun-shiny day, it is hard to believe that it takes 8 minutes for sunlight to leave the surface of the Sun and touch our face.
Amid the overwhelm, I try to imagine things from God’s perspective. From that vantage point, my personal obstacles seem insignificant.
Many believe that Mary, albeit young, was educated in her faith. She would have known the scriptures, perhaps even this verse from Isaiah 40:26 (NIV):
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens, who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
Mary, without knowing all that we know today about the universe, had so much faith that she knew “Nothing is impossible for God.” That kind of faith can be transforming!
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is staying in Capernaum after performing a series of healings. We can assume these two blind men are struggling to support themselves and perhaps their families. In that culture, they would have been outcasts.
We are unsure about the nature of their blindness; it might have been physical or spiritual. What is certain is that they believed Jesus had the power to heal them.
If Jesus approached you now amid your struggles or challenges and asked, “Do you believe I can handle this?” would you have enough faith in His power to resolve your situation?
Would you respond like Mary and the two blind men with an enthusiastic “Yes, Lord,” and see your life transform? Or would you be more inclined to say,
“No way! I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Now, I bet some of you have been watching football. One of my all-time favorite players is Tim Tebow (go Gators), because he would write John 3:16 on his eye black. You probably know the verse:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
But are you familiar with what comes next?
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Folks, that’s the whole reason Jesus Christ was born! This is the heart of the Good News! This is powerful!
But then – John packs the punch! He continues to write about “whoever” does this and that…he makes the people feel really uncomfortable. He even angers the king, is imprisoned, and is killed.
So, I want us to go deeper and see John’s words through our own eyes. What if we replace “whoever” and fill in the blanks with our own names? When I point to all of you, you insert your own name. Let’s give it a try and see how it goes.
______ believes in Jesus and is not condemned. Yeah! When you believe in Jesus, you are saved!!!
But then – John continues…
______ does not believe, they stand condemned.
______ has not believed in the name of God’s only Son. Now here it comes –
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but
______ loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.
______ who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. Sounds like the Epstein files.
Whoa! That message is much more powerful when we place ourselves within the Gospel. Don’t you agree?
Yet John gives us a glimmer of hope. He goes on in verse 22 to say that Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, where he spent time with _______ – YOU!
Despite all the darkness and evil – Jesus Christ entered this world to be a light for YOU and to guide YOU out of darkness. No matter what darkness or obstacle YOU face, remember that Jesus came into this world specifically for YOU! Not one of you is exempt.
Where did this year go? 2026 is only a few days away. As the new year approaches, it’s a good time to develop new habits. Our prayer for the church this year is to be Awakened by Grace – awakened by God. I pray that we discover more hope and face fewer obstacles in the upcoming year.
I want to give you three straightforward ways to start your new year…
- Change Your Perspective
Most of our major obstacles arise from how we see the situation. By reframing our mindset, we can reduce the perceived size and impact of these challenges. It’s similar to stepping outside and gazing at the trillions of stars in the sky or the countless grains of sand on our beautiful Florida beaches.
Shift your energy and mindset, and you can control your attitude in the face of obstacles.
- Formulate A Plan
Obstacles often seem daunting, making us feel vulnerable. Assess your situation and create a plan. This year I didn’t put up a Christmas Tree, but decided to make a Lego tree instead, like that’s a good idea. It is like a 1,000-piece puzzle: when you first open the box, it appears overwhelming. But by starting with the edge pieces, you quickly form the framework. Then, focus on finding pieces with similar shapes or colors. Gradually, the puzzle comes together.
Use the resources you’ve already been given and seek help from others if you need it.
- Take Action Steps
Planning is crucial, but without action, nothing happens. Breaking the situation into manageable steps makes it less overwhelming.
Do you want to be sitting here a year from now, asking yourself, “Why am I still in the same situation?” I don’t think so!
Here’s the thing: not all obstacles are insurmountable. I love how Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon and famously said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Going to the moon required hundreds of people to:
- perspective,
- plan, and
- action
I’ve noticed that in our moments of weakness, we often dwell on our weaknesses.
However, by acknowledging and celebrating small victories, we lay the groundwork for the next step. This approach gradually builds our confidence and fosters the development of new habits.
I got a message on one of my Apps congratulating me for reaching 30,000 minutes over the past 150 something days. I did the math, and realized I was spending three hours a day on this App. Maybe that sounds bad, but this is a prayer and Bible app. I’ve spent three hours a day praying and studying Scripture. What looks like an obstacle can become an opportunity.
Achieving success depends on persistence, perseverance, making steady progress toward the vision, and it takes resilience—being prepared to keep going by overcoming one obstacle at a time.
Recently, I spoke with my coaching mentor, Valorie Burton. I recommend her new book, Rules of Resilience: 10 Ways Successful People Get Better, Wiser, and Stronger.
During our conversation, Valorie reminded me of our AOOA coaching framework: Agenda, Obstacle, Outcome, and Action Steps. We ask the client…
- What do you want? (What’s your agenda)
- What do you want to change or see happen? (What’s your obstacle)
- Why do you think I can help you? (What’s your desired outcome)
- Do you believe that change is possible? (Are you willing to take the necessary action to get what you want?)
AOOA: Agenda, Obstacle, Outcome, Action.
Over the past several months, as I gradually read her book, Valorie wrote. “There’s something about our darkest times that can make the light more obvious. Even the tiniest of lights looks bright when it’s pitch black in a room. A strong vision is like that light – when obstacles do their best to extinguish it. If you keep the vision in your line of sight, the obstacle can never fully block it.”
I thought this space on Christmas Eve. The tiniest lights in this pitch-black place. And how one by one we lit the candles, representing Christ’s light entering the world.
What if your faith were insurmountable and Jesus stood before you, asking?
What do you want?
What do you want to change?
Do you believe I can I help you do this?
What actions are you ready to take?
Are you ready to respond – “Yes, Lord,” I believe!
When we wish for Jesus to work in our lives, we understand that through Him, all things become possible. God is capable of anything! People’s lives are changed. By studying the Bible, attending church, and gathering with other Christians seeking a new or different path, our faith grants us God’s healing grace.
Faith in Jesus Christ transforms lives—marriages and relationships are mended, alcoholics and addicts find recovery, prisoners are released, and cancer patients experience healing. College opportunities open for those who previously believed it was impossible. Financial stability is restored, and hope shines where darkness once prevailed.
Two blind men follow Jesus as he enters a house, probably Peter’s house – the place where Jesus stayed when he was in Capernaum. Jesus touches their eyes and says, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”
Healing occurs in proportion to their faith. If they had not believed, they might not have been healed, a theme found throughout the Gospels. When Jesus Christ heals, it is almost always in connection with someone’s faith. No faith, no healing. With faith, the miracle happened: “Their eyes were opened!”
Let 2026 be your year of faith in Jesus Christ, may your eyes be opened to new opportunities.
Let us pray:
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna’ be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day. Amen!
Benediction
Let faith be a joyous reminder that life’s challenges become manageable, leading to a “bright, bright, sunshiny day.”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I admit that worldly distractions and personal struggles can blind me to Your truth. Help me identify the “rain” in my life and turn my focus to You, the source of light and healing.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the assurance that You hear my cries. Strengthen my persistence. When my vision is clouded, and doubts arise, help me to keep following You and waiting on Your perfect timing.
Lord Jesus, I believe You are able to do the impossible in my life. Increase my faith where it is weak and remove my self-doubt. Let it be done to me according to my faith in You.
Gracious God, thank you for bringing me from darkness into Your marvelous light. Help me to live and walk in this light every day. May my life reflect Your mercy and truth to others.
Holy Spirit, give me the courage to share my testimony of Your healing power. Let my life be a powerful witness to Your love and might. I pray for the spiritual awakening of those around me, that their eyes may be opened to see Jesus. Amen.