More Than Our Eyes Can See
Originally shared September 21, 2026
What would it mean to you to hear, smack dab in the middle of your current season, that you have help and protection beyond what your eyes can see?
I wonder what situations from your own life arise in your mind. Is there a place where you feel the opposite—a lack of help and support—where you really need it?
I invite you to pause and to name that place to the Lord in the quiet of your heart.
The biblical narrative we are looking at today provides a powerful image of help and protection. We’ll also look at some Scriptures to show that we too have help—more than our eyes perceive.
Imagine this scene (or if you can, grab a Bible and take a look at 2 Kings 6:8-23 with me): The prophet Elisha has been receiving divine intel from the Lord about the plans and movements of the Arameans, who are at war with Israel.
Elisha’s insights, which he has been passing on to the king of Israel, are so accurate that the king of Aram assumes that he has a spy in his own ranks.
When he finds out that it is instead the prophet Elisha who is so powerfully helping Israel, he naturally tries to put an end to this situation. Upon discovering the prophet’s location in the city of Dothan, the king of Aram “sent horses and chariots and a strong force there” (v. 14) to capture Elisha.
In this way, Elisha finds himself surrounded by an enemy force, literally overnight—not because he did anything wrong, but rather because he was serving the Lord and the Israelites in such a powerful and effective way.
When Elisha’s servant goes out in the morning and sets eyes on the enemy forces surrounding them, his response is entirely relatable:
“Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” (v. 15)
I love that this reaction made it into Scripture. It’s the everyman’s response, right? It’s the way most of us are inclined to respond when we feel surrounded by troubles that seem too great for our capacity and resources.
That is, we panic and immediately ask what we should do.
After all, the text names only Elisha and this servant in the center of the surrounding army; they are vastly outnumbered.
And it’s exactly this which makes Elisha’s response so surprising. Elisha’s immediate response is not to panic or jump into frenzied action but instead to take in the situation and really see.
Where the enemy army encroaches, the prophet sees the power and protection that God has already provided.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:16-17
How can Elisha be so utterly calm? Because he is seeing what his servant can’t yet see.
Just like in the fight of David and Goliath that we looked at two weeks ago, the battle seems lopsided in one direction. But the eyes of faith reveal that the reality is the total opposite.
Did you notice that the prophet doesn’t try to talk his servant into the deeper reality that he sees? Instead he prays to the One who is able to open his servant’s spiritual eyes.
And oh how the picture changes once those eyes are opened.
It isn’t just that Elisha and his servant have protection. It’s that they are encircled by an invisible line of defense that far exceeds what is coming against them.
(A little sidenote: you know that scene in The Lion King where little Simba is cornered by the pack of hyenas? He opens his mouth to give his little roar…but what we hear instead is the giant roar of Mufasa from off screen.
His protection has arrived in the form of his much more intimidating and powerful father. And suddenly, the tables have completely and utterly turned. It’s all the hyenas can do to cower and then scurry away in the face of such a fierce and overwhelming defense.
Now, back to Elisha…)
The Arameans who are after Elisha have horses and chariots—the sophisticated military equipment of the day—but they don’t have chariots of fire, now do they?
How can the Arameans fight against this formidable reality that they can’t even see?
Elisha then prays that the Aramean army be struck blind—a fitting contrast to the prophet's spiritual sight. Elisha is then able to lead them away, completely averting their attack.
Now this is one specific episode from Scripture from a specific context, but Scripture is full of references to God’s protection of those who trust in Him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:7
The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4b
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6
Just to name a few.
We don’t always know the outcomes of our circumstances. Sometimes God lets us face things that, frankly, seem like way too much for us. Troubles that press in on us from all sides. Sometimes He delivers us out of battles that are too big for us. Sometimes He lets us walk through them, but He walks with us.
Always, though, our greatest help is evident through the eyes of faith, and it is never lacking to the one who is leaning on the Lord.
Perhaps my favorite thing about the story of Elisha above is how what appears to be a crushing difficulty instead becomes a place of revelation for his servant.
Can’t you just imagine his “Oh no” turning into total awe and wonder?
🌿 Which leads me to a question: might the places in our lives where we are wringing our hands be invitations to see? To see the deeper and higher realities of God’s protection and provision?
I invite you to think back to the beginning of this devotional, when I asked if there are places in your life where you are lacking support and help. These can be quite painful and isolating places.
In those places, in particular, our hearts really need to know that the Lord is with us, though others may not be.
Sometimes, when we lack the support we need, we are in a position to find that He provides what no one else can.
But like Elisha’s servant, we need Him to open our eyes to this unseen presence and help. Let’s come to Him now and ask for just that.
🙏 Prayer
Lord,
Your Word promises that You are near to those who call on You in truth. We call on You now with sincere hearts.
Please open our eyes to Your presence and protection that encircle and keep us.
Though we may feel isolated or unsupported in some areas of life, this is not the deeper reality. We have help unseen as we follow and serve You.
You are our shield in any and every difficulty. You are our ever-present help. Even chariots of fire pale in comparison to the One who sent them, the same One who promises His personal presence to anyone who trusts in Jesus.
May these truths sink deep into our hearts.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Thanks so much for reading!
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.