I was sitting in the optometrist’s office when I got the news. “Glasses”, he said. Tears filled my eyes, and I leaned into my mother. I felt silly, crying as a teenager over something as simple as glasses. But I was devastated, and the struggle was real at an age when image mattered.
My mom comforted me, and then we turned to check out the options for my frames. I was doomed. Our insurance only covered a collection of the thickest, most hideous frames. Why, oh, why did I need glasses!
The day came, and I went to pick up the frames I had chosen – the thinnest pair I could dig up. We made a stop at the local park, a family favorite of ours. I remember being high up on the swings when suddenly something caught my eye. My new lenses showed me something I hadn’t noticed before…leaves…leaves on the trees.
Sure, I knew where leaves came from, but there they were, as clear as day! Hundreds of beautiful leaves on the tree in front of me, with their fine, jagged edges. How did I miss such beauty? My crystal-clear, newly corrected vision allowed me to see things I had missed before.
Many of the kings of Judah failed to lead righteously. Like a broken record, you read the final legacy of their reigns…”He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.” JehoiaKIM, JehoiaCHIN, Zedekiah…their failed leadership led to the people being unfaithful to the Lord.
So, God sent His people messengers to warn them to change their ways. Their vision was dim, and God was giving them an opportunity to look through clear lenses.
But, they scoffed and despised these messengers until God’s wrath was aroused. They desired to remain blind and rejected the chance to see things God’s way.
Due to their disobedience, many Israelites were killed by the Babylonians, and those who escaped the sword were taken into exile to Babylon until seventy years were fulfilled as prophesied by Jeremiah. How devastating that an entire generation missed sweet communion with their Father because of poor vision!
Often, we get comfortable living with blurry vision, going about our days in a fog. Maybe it’s a broken relationship or harbored hurts that we can’t let go. We can’t figure out why resentment still resides inside. And while there may be people in our lives offering clarity through advice or prayer, we are reluctant to move forward.
It is time to see things more clearly. Take a step of faith and ask God to reveal areas where you need clarity, whether it’s a relationhip, a job, or even a health issue. Allow God to open up areas that need mending and rely on trusted friends to speak life into your situation.
It may not be easy to admit you need help, but trust in a Savior who came to give you an abundant life. You’ll start to see things in whole new way.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of the glory of His glorious inheritance in his holy people,” Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
~Betsy
