Oakwood Church Fresh Start Women's Devotional Encouragement for Today Hartland Delafield

Seeing the World through Dusty Windows
By Elin Henderson

“That the eyes of your understanding be enlightened…”
Ephesians 1:18

Have you ever let your car go a little too long without a washing? Ice, snow, and salt in the winter and dirt and mud the rest of the year can coat the vehicle and pretty soon you look like you are driving a clump and not a car! With all the dust here in Africa, our car is perpetually reddish brown instead of the taupe color it should be. A mere brush with my truck right now could result in an instant trip to the laundry!

This dust is particularly bad for seeing out of the windows, except perhaps through the “Wash me!” that someone has graciously written on the rear window. In fact, the dust can get so bad that we start perceiving reality wrong. For example, I have wondered why there was a grove of trees in a large opening in a field, then realizing that it was a village of huts. Or, why a local boy was herding dogs down the side of the road, only to find out they were goats.

I recently came across this beautiful and very old poem:

“The man that looks on glass.
On it may stay his eye:
Of, if he pleaseth, through it pass.
And then the heavens espy.” – Herbert (1)

At times, the “glass” of our view of life becomes so dirty that we start to perceive things incorrectly. We focus on the dust and lose sight of the view beyond. Instead of seeing the Lord’s gracious hand teaching us through trials, we wonder why He is picking on us or punishing us. He allows a mishap into our life so that we will lean upon Him, but we become angry with Him and perceive it as an obstacle we must overcome in our own strength. The reality is there, but because of misperception, we miss out on the blessing.

I believe that as long as we are in these fallen bodies, our glass will always be slightly obscured. However, when we want to know what’s truly going on behind the glass, it is best to ask the Lord to remove the haze and reveal the reality of what He has in mind. Often, He removes it and gives us a clear view of reality, but then again, sometimes He allows it to remain and says, “Walk by faith.” Either way, let’s keep in mind that we often see the world through “dust-covered windows.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there a situation in your life that you aren’t seeing clearly? Ask God to give you a clear view.

FURTHER READING:
Ecclesiastes 6:12, 7:13, 24; 2 Corinthians 5:7

(1) Let Go, Archbishop Fenelon (17th century Archbishop), Published by Whitaker House, USA, 1973, page 27.

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to nine-year-old Callie and six-year-old Elias.