God Glasses

There are times in my life when it is easy to trust God.  I laugh at the devil when discouraging thoughts come to mind, and I just smile and remember that God always works things out.  There are also those times, when I start thinking about my future.  I’m planning and dreaming, and then, WHAM! I’m hit with a dart—I mean doubt.  Or, sometimes I start focusing too much on the immediate circumstances (an upcoming test, or—my big one—a decision to be made).  It is easy to get caught in either of these two types of snares and let them steal our peace and take our eyes off of Jesus.  God does not intend for his children to be in this type of bondage, and he has the answer.

Recently, I was afflicted with both worrying and nearsightedness (yes, that is a word).  I was distressing about those unknown elements of the future and dreading the events of the next day.  Finally I took a step back and thought, “Alyssa, you are looking at it all wrong.  You better put on your “God glasses”.  I went to my Bible and began reading.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1  “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that”  James 4:13-15

It was quite a change of perspective to be struggling with worrying and then read about boasting, but I began to see the similarities.  Both Miss Worries and Sir Boastful need to remember God is the authority over the future.  Miss Worries knows so little of what will happen that it is vain for her to fret.  Sir Boastful knows so little of the future that his plans are foolish.

 Then I read that precious passage in Luke 13 that I have probably read ## times.  The foolish rich man thought that his future was secure, but he did not know the mind of God.  The ravens and the lilies are small, helpless things that cannot prepare for the future or even provide their own needs.  I know I have seen God’s hand in my life, and it is a witness to me that he is planning my future.  He has proved over and over that he knows my needs and will supply every one of them.  Why then do I agonize over those things I cannot control?

I only need to be sure that I am following my Master, and then I can be sure that the things I meet are all for my good.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”