I noticed that something was off. 

I realized that I was squinting a lot. My vision wasn’t as sharp as it once had been. A visit to the doctor a few years back revealed a slight blurriness in my current reality. I needed support to maintain clarity of sight. 

My vision had changed. 

Because my ability to see objects far away had weakened through the years, I would now need corrective lenses. As if that wasn’t enough, I was told that correcting my distance problem would create a close-up problem as well. 

Fixing my long-term view would require adjusting my near-term view.

In 1 Kings 17, Elijah, the prophet, pronounced judgment on the people of Israel. Over the years, the challenges of life began to obscure their path. The hardships they endured in Egypt, the long trek through the wilderness, their need for water and manna, the difficulties of their journey to the Promised Land, and the exhaustion associated with waiting on the fulfillment of God’s promises had all taken its toll. The people of Israel began to lose sight of the object of their affection. 

Eventually, the people of Israel turned to idol worship.

Their circumstances began to color their perception of God. Despite the instructions they had received from God along the way, the Israelites allowed their experiences to inform their view of His character, which soon led to God’s judgment. 

“As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 

—1 Kings 17:1

Who or what are you looking to as your source of provision?

Dear friend, hear me in this . . . 

It will always be worth it to live surrendered to God’s will for your life. 

That may mean that instead of watching your favorite TV show every day, you designate one day out of the week to intentionally seek God in prayer about how you may need to guard your heart in your current season of life. That may mean praying for guidance on stewarding your current resources to maneuver through economic hardship. That may mean a daily practice of praise to remember who God is in a season of health challenges. 

Whatever the case, gird yourself in the truth of God’s Word. Remind yourself of His faithfulness. Practice, daily, what it means to live a life of surrender to God. 

Stop trying to take matters into your own hands and instead believe that God is still able to answer your prayers, transform your life and renew your mind. God is still able to rescue you and bring about salvation. God is still exactly who He has always been and someone you can count on!

In case you are wondering, I did get glasses that I only wear at night. It does cause a little blurriness for things that are closer to my face, but that’s not a major problem. It’s more important for me to be able to see well so that I can drive well, especially when I’m driving in the dark.

Maybe it’s time for you to address your vision problem. The key is to fix your long-term view of who God is, the plans He has for you and the promise of eternity available to those who trust in Him. Fixing your gaze on God doesn’t just help you to see clearly, it also ensures that you can see well when the dark seasons of life come your way.

Fixing your long-term vision will indeed, by default, require an adjustment in what you focus on in the near term. But as the song so eloquently states . . . 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace