Tobit 11:7-13: a reflection

7Raphael said, “I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. 8Therefore anoint his eyes with the bile, and being pricked with it, he will rub, and will make the white films fall away. Then he will see you.” 9Anna ran to him, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said to him, “I have seen you, my child! I am ready to die.” They both wept. 10Tobit went toward the door and stumbled; but his son ran to him, 11and took hold of his father. He rubbed the bile on his father’s eyes, saying, “Cheer up, my father.” 12When his eyes began to hurt, he rubbed them. 13Then the white films peeled away from the corners of his eyes; and he saw his son, and fell upon his neck.

After long years of blindness, Tobit's sight is at last restored. His son Tobias, guided by the angel, anoints his father's eyes, and the white films peel away: he saw his son, and fell upon his neck. What Tobit had lost for years, his sight, is given back to him; and the moment is one of overflowing joy, father and son weeping and embracing. After the long affliction of blindness, God restored what Tobit had lost, and the restoration brought a joy that had been long awaited.

Notice the restoration after long affliction, and the joy it brought. Tobit had been blind for years, in a long affliction that seemed permanent; yet God restored his sight, and the joy of it broke out in weeping and embrace. What had been lost was given back; the long darkness gave way to sight, the long affliction to restoration and joy. God did not leave Tobit in his affliction forever; in his time, he restored what had been lost, and the joy of the restoration was the greater for the long waiting. The affliction was not the end; restoration and joy followed.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can restore what we have lost, even after long affliction, and bring joy again. We can be in a long affliction, a loss that seems permanent, a darkness that seems it will never lift; but Tobit's long blindness was healed at last, and joy returned. God is able to restore what we have lost, in his time, and to bring joy again after long affliction. When you are in a long affliction that seems it will never end, do not despair as though it were permanent; God is able to restore and to bring joy again, as he restored Tobit's sight after years of blindness. Hold onto hope in your long affliction, trusting that God is able to restore and bring joy again in his time, as Tobit's blindness gave way at last to sight and to the joy of embracing his son; for our affliction, however long, is not the end, and God can restore what we have lost and give us joy again.

Lord, after long years of blindness, Tobit's sight is at last restored. His son Tobias, guided by the angel, anoints his father's eyes, and the white films peel away: he saw his son, and fell upon his neck. What Tobit had lost for years, his sight, is given back to him; and the moment is one of overflowing joy, father and son weeping and embracing. After the long affliction of blindness, you restored what Tobit had lost. Show me the restoration after long affliction, and the joy it brought. Tobit had been blind for years, in a long affliction that seemed permanent; yet you restored his sight, and the joy of it broke out in weeping and embrace. What had been lost was given back; the long darkness gave way to sight. You did not leave Tobit in his affliction forever; in your time, you restored what had been lost, and the joy was the greater for the long waiting. Take that to my heart, for you can restore what I have lost, even after long affliction, and bring joy again. I can be in a long affliction, a loss that seems permanent, a darkness that seems it will never lift; but Tobit's long blindness was healed at last. You are able to restore what I have lost, in your time, and to bring joy again. When I am in a long affliction that seems it will never end, keep me from despairing as though it were permanent; you are able to restore and to bring joy again, Lord. Help me hold onto hope in my long affliction, trusting that you can restore and bring joy again in your time.