MICROSCOPE MONSTERS
Take a look at the picture above and try to guess its identity. A space alien? A Halloween costume? Your teenager in the morning? Actually, it’s a mosquito, magnified thousands of times under a microscope. Instead of a monster, it’s a tiny bug. Magnifying miniature objects certainly changes our perspective of the world, doesn’t it!
The same is true with our troubles. Satan throws a mosquito at us and we react as if it’s a giant monster. Traffic, a broken appliance, not having enough milk for our cereal. Of course, those are day-to-day struggles, that we magnify out of proportion. But even in the face of life-altering tragedies, —a divorce, bankruptcy, or serious illness—viewing them through God’s eyes brings great peace. By developing an eternal perspective, even these “monsters” shrink in size. God transforms our monsters into mosquitos. We lift our eyes from our microscopes and see the world in a different way.
God wants us to hold everything loosely in life. Everything. Why? Because the stuff we cling to for security is so fragile. In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Paul observes, “The time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” Can I get a witness?
Examine Paul’s list. Specifically, he warns us not to cling to relationships, emotions, and money. Those aren’t random examples. They’re the three areas of life we most struggle with surrendering to God. Our three biggest idols. Our “Precious”. We wear ourselves out trying to achieve fulfilling relationships, happiness, and having money—lots of money.
Of course, we’re concerned about our relationships, emotions, and money, but hold them loosely. Notice Paul’s words. “Use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.” Don’t cling to anything other than the Lord for security and strength. Satan tempts us to magnify the stuff around us, attaching more importance to them than they actually hold. It’s a struggle to maintain God’s perspective on the things we encounter in life. But it’s critical. Otherwise, we might run for our lives next time we see a mosquito.
UPDATE ON LINDA: Linda is still struggling with detoxing, but she is pressing through. She had some fluid drained from her side this morning, and is resting. She continues to remain joyful and positive. Please pray that she’s able to drink her juices and stay on her special food plan.
Principle: We tend to magnify our troubles, making them bigger than they really are.
Ponder:
In what areas of life do you tend to make your problems larger than reality?
How can you develop God’s perspective on your struggles?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study 1 Corinthians 7:25-38.
Prayer: Lord, in the midst of struggles, please give me your perspective on my problems.