Lessons from Remodeling-3
How much do you focus on your problems?
Verse of the Day
‘So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.’
Today’s Devotional
I have been very guilty at times in my life of looking at my problems so much that they were all I could see. And if there is one thing that I have learned, it’s that we become what we behold.
To make this concept more literal, we are told twice in Matthew and once in Mark to gouge out our eye if it causes us to sin. That leads me to believe that it matters what I look at. It matters what I allow to have an influence in my life. If I am looking at social media and it causes me to question and doubt my identity in Christ, I should stop looking at social media. If I am watching shows on TV that cause me to be flippant about certain sinful behavior, I should turn off the TV. If I am spending time with people who cause me to be tempted to behave in ways I shouldn’t, then I need new friends.
Switching back to the truth of today’s verse, it says that I should not be looking at my problems. That doesn’t mean that I don’t do the things that need to be done each day, but maybe I shouldn’t see those things as problems. Instead, I am to gaze on things that are unseen. How in the world am I supposed to do that?
From my experience, I can gaze on the unseen by shifting my focus and perspective. Let me give you an example. Yesterday, I was really frustrated with a vendor that did not do what she said she was going to do. And God tends to lovingly remind me of the things I am writing about. So instead of focusing on the problem of not having the products I need and the possible delay, I went and sat outside on the porch to pray. As I sat down, the first thing I noticed was that the rosebush in the front of our rental house had literally exploded with gorgeous red blooms. Red happens to be my very favorite color, especially the deep red of roses. As I was enjoying the beauty of these roses, I noticed that there was a gentle breeze blowing and it was an absolutely perfect temperature outside. I was able to sit outside for about 30 minutes and simply enjoy the beauty and majesty of God’s created world. I looked at the beauty that I could see to remind me of the majesty of God’s love and faithfulness that my human eyes cannot see.
Please know that I am not very good at any of this. But I wholeheartedly believe that God is teaching me some valuable lessons. I cannot see the sovereignty of God, but I can look around me and choose to see His hand. I cannot see God’s love for me and you, but I can notice the little ways that God blesses His beloved people. And if all else fails, I can read the Bible and see the promises that God has provided me to remind me of the unseen glory that awaits us.
I can also look at the past and see God’s faithfulness. When our home flooded in Hurricane Harvey, I did not think the rebuilding process would ever be over. But the water damage allowed us to rebuild the house we loved in a way that was even better than it was before the hurricane. And we did eventually get to move back into that home and truly enjoy it. Which teaches me that this remodel will be over in due time and I will get to enjoy my “new” home. (This is another great example of the benefits of keeping a journal. I can see God’s faithfulness all over that situation that builds my faith today.)
Ultimately, we all have a choice what we gaze upon. We can continue to look at our problems, or we can look at a faithful God who is in control of it all. We can ask for daily reminders of His love. We can speak out biblical truth over our lives. We can look at the beauty of God’s created world. We can choose to see the unseen nature of God.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What problems in your life do you need to stop “looking” at?
How has God shown you glimpses of the unseen?
How does the created world remind you of God’s glory?
How, specifically, can you gaze upon the unseen nature of God today?