Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Amy Boucher Pie, and I called our reading, Eyes to See.

Joy was concerned for her relative Sandy, who for years had struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues.

When she went to Sandy's apartment, the doors were locked, and it appeared vacant. As she and

others planned their search for Sandy, Joy prayed, God, help me to see what I'm not seeing.

As they were leaving, Joy looked back at Sandy's apartment and saw the tiniest movement of a curtain. In that moment, she knew that Sandy was alive.

Although it took emergency assistance to reach her, Joy rejoiced in this answered prayer.

The prophet Elisha knew the power of asking God to reveal to him his reality.

When the Syrian army surrounded their city, Elisha's servant shivered in fear.

Not the man of God, however, for with God's help, he glimpsed the unseen.

In 2 Kings chapter 6, Elisha prayed that the servant too would see, and the Lord

opened the servant's eyes to see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.

God lifted the veil between the spiritual and physical worlds for Elisha and his servant. Joy believes God helped her see the tiny

flicker of the curtain, giving her hope. We too can ask God to give us the spiritual vision to understand what's happening

around us, whether with our loved ones or in our communities. And we too can be agents of his

love, truth, and compassion.

Our passage of scripture today is from 2nd Kings chapter 6, verses 15 through 23.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning,

an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.

Oh, no, my lord, what shall we do? The servant asked.

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

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