Over the weekend, my husband and I attended his company picnic at an amusement park. Visiting the park without our sons or our granddaughter was a different experience. After enjoying a buffet of food from the picnic, we rode a handful of our favorite rides, walked through the park, stepped into a couple of shops, and then bid adieu for another year.

While we walked through the park, we passed a wall of funhouse mirrors—you know the ones I mean, right? The ones that stretch you out to make you look like a giant or shrink you to make you look shorter than you actually are. Our favorite is the one that stretches our heads and shortens our bodies. We had a good laugh, snapped a few pictures, then headed toward our next destination.

On the ride home, though, I contemplated the mirrors in our own lives that distort our vision. I thought of two things that distort mine and decided to share them with you: others’ opinions and the insecurities and lies we believe about ourselves.

Image by Johnnys_pic from Pixabay

Others’ Opinions

Why do we care what others think and say about us? If we’re being honest, it’s most likely because we want them to like us. We want to be accepted, to belong. God created us for relationships, first with Him, then with others. So it’s natural to want others to have favorable opinions about us. But focusing more on other opinions rather than God’s opinions discourages us and can lead us away from God’s plan and purpose in our lives, especially when we try to change who we are in order to be accepted and fit in. I think there’s still a middle schooler inside each of us at times.

In order to maintain a healthy perspective, we need to remember the love God has for each one of us. He designed us in His image but with our own unique gifts and talents. We need to be steeped so deeply in the Word that we can combat those destructive lives with His truth. By surrounding ourselves with supportive, encouraging family, friends, and co-workers, we will be reminded those who love us for who we are will not ask us to change who we are or become someone we shouldn’t. Be yourself because you’re an original—God made only one of you.

Image by SplitShire from Pixabay

Insecurities and lies

While writing this post, I was also messaging a friend who is going through a trial with adult children. I reminded her how Satan likes to attack when we are weak. He zaps our strength and dilutes our faith.

As much as I dislike to admit it, my faith is stronger when things are going well. When walking through trials, I tend to fixate on the problem and not the problem-solver…something I’m working to change.

I used to say I was the queen of overthinking, but this is one area where the Lord is working in my heart and mind. It’s a struggle not to over-process escalating thoughts. Each time my thoughts spiral out of control, I take them to the Lord and ask Him to rein them in.

We all have insecurities and the lies in our heads that make us believe we aren’t enough or we’re not good enough. Truth is, we aren’t good enough, but the Lord’s grace and mercy fills that gap between His goodness and our humanness.

If you’re struggling with insecurities and lies in your head, give them up to God. Ask Him to fill you with His confidence and to speak Truth into your heart and mind. Then put your trust in Him because He will never take you where His grace doesn’t cover you.

After riding rides and wiping sweat and sunblock off my face, my glasses smudged, hampering my vision. If I clean my lenses with the wrong thing, they will end up smeared or streaked, changing how I view my surroundings.

Same with my focus—if I focus on myself, my lenses become smudged and cloudy. But if I need my focus where it needs to be—on God, then He clears my vision and guides me in the direction I need to follow.

What about you? What distorts your vision? How do you clear it for better viewing?