Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

YEARS AGO, I was aboard a small yacht in a convoy that was sailing off the southern coast of Africa. We had left the harbor with good visibility, but as night fell, dense fog rolled in and blackness encompassed us. Very quickly the vessels lost sight of one another.

Because ours was the only yacht in the group equipped with radar, we became an invisible “light” for the others. Every helmsman following us understood that to navigate safely, he had to trust a guide he couldn’t see and respond correctly to the information the guide relayed.

The people listening to Jesus at the temple did not realize the Light of the World would soon be taken away. During a time of terrible spiritual darkness, the disciples had to make the transition from following a familiar, visible Master to fully trust the invisible God. Their weak faith needed to be strengthened if they were to fulfill God’s plan for their lives and arrive safely at their heavenly destination.

It is when our own trusted props and resources fail that we best learn how to grow in faith. The more we lean on the unseen God and believe and act upon His Word, the deeper and clearer will be our experience of the divine promise—that Jesus is the light of life and if we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness.

Are you making an important decision? Let God’s Word guide you.

Carol Chase and her husband spent many years circumnavigating the world by sailboat. She is retired and currently coordinates an e-mail prayer group from home.