How Do You Handle Your Blind Spots?

I upgraded my car a few months ago. An added benefit of the new vehicle is that I have blind spot detectors for the first time. 

Now when I’m about to change lanes, a small light alerts me that there’s another car where I’m trying to go. And if I fail to heed the warning light, my car also beeps until I wise up and change my trajectory.

To be honest, this is a feature I never thought I wanted. In fact, when I once took a test drive in a car with the feature, I just found it to be annoying.

But surprisingly, I now love my blind spot detectors! I can’t imagine what I ever did without them.

As I’ve pondered the matter of blind spots, I’ve realized there are many spiritual parallels:

1. Bind spots are a fact of life for all of us. Despite having problematic areas in our lives, often we’re oblivious to the danger. In the Recovery community, they typically refer to this as “living in denial.” So, my friend, I hope you recognize the likelihood of some moral or spiritual blind spots in your life.  

2. At first, we often resist having our blind spots detected. It was humbling for me to admit I needed a car with blind spot detection—but I do. However, just as “pride goes before a fall”  (Proverbs 16:18), humility leads us to protection. If you’re unwilling to handle the truth, you’ll eventually be headed toward a collision.

3. God designed the church with blind spot detection in mind. While this is often a foreign concept to believers who’ve grown up in the megachurch world, the early church had leaders who were true “shepherds,” faithfully watching out for the welfare of the sheep (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Hebrews 13:17). The community of believers was instructed to form close relationships and “speak the truth in love”  (Ephesians 4:15).  And although it was understood that sin might occur, there was an expectation of confession and restoration (James 5:16, Galatians 6:1). 

As you read this blog, I hope you’ll do an honest assessment of your own relationships. Do you have a pastor, mentor, small group leader, accountability partner, or friend who is able to reveal your blind spots when necessary?

And let’s not forget that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate blind spot detector. We need to regularly come before the Lord and pray this powerful prayer written by David: 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way”  (Psalm 139:23-24 NASB).

David surely had his ups and downs along the way, but I love his conclusion when God mercifully dealt with his blind spots:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”  (Psalm 32:1-2 NLT). 

Yes, great joy awaits those whose sins have been detected, but who have also experienced God’s amazing mercy and grace.