Seeing The Unseen

Fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, but what is unseen. for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

O.K., that sounds good, but how do we do that? How do we fix our eyes on things we cannot see? How do we see the unseen?

Turn on the news lately? There is plenty to see. Plenty to get discouraged about, plenty to fix our eyes on; however, the scripture tells us not to FIX our eyes on those things. I am not saying to stick our heads in the sand and refuse to stay current on the happenings around the world, but the temporary cannot become our focus.

Our focus is to be on the unseen, the eternal.

I am not saying this is easy. There is a price and many times the price we have to pay is the willingness to face our fears. Fear of the unknown, fear of failing, fear of rejection, fear of being hurt, fear of not being in control, fear of being misunderstood, unpopular and considered a fanatic, etc. etc. Fear comes in many forms and fear can become paralyzing. Yesterday I was reminded of the power of fear as I watched my daughter stand at the edge of the ocean.

When did this happen? When did my 9 year old daughter become so aware of sharks and stingrays that she no longer enjoys the ocean as she once did.? As she stood pretty much frozen in fear we talked about how she used to love to go in the ocean and jump over the waves. This is something she did with her daddy, but yesterday her daddy was gone fishing with her brother, so it was just her and I standing there looking out into the ocean.

She told me about some show she had watched on T.V. about sharks and stingrays. My heart sank. I know we need to be aware of potential danger but how much information is too much? The fear I saw her frozen in made me sad and mad. The sounds of her belly laughing with her daddy just a short time ago swam through my head. The memory of watching them play in the water now seemed so out of reach. I stood there wishing I could push rewind and play that scene over and over, but there is no remote control or TiVo in "real" life.

Her focus used to be on her daddy and enjoying him. Enjoying being in his arms and facing each challenging wave, but now........her focus was on the scary things that she had seen on T.V. The things she believed were just lurking in the water waiting to hurt her. For her.... the "unseen" was too scary to jump in the ocean. However, it was what she SAW on T.V. that even made her aware of the possiblities under the water.

We talked about her fears and today the plan is to face the ocean with her daddy. She wouldn't let me take her in the ocean (and I am o.k. with that), but she is willing to face her fears with her daddy.

So.........here we are! Where are you? Will you face your fears today? What waves do you face? What do you believe is just below the surface ready to swallow you up? Will your focus be on your Heavenly Father who holds you in His arms? Will you let him carry you as you face each wave and let Him show you the things that can only be seen through His eyes?

Oh God, give us eyes to see beyond our fears. May we all rest in your arms and see the world through your eyes. Give us insight into what is eternal. Help us to trust you for wisdom. Oh Father, when we do find ourselves frozen in fear, help us to face it and to enjoy being with you.........and if it has been a while since we have "belly" laughed, give us that gift again. This is my prayer in Jesus' name.