“I see things so much more clearly now than I did years ago,” she stated matter of factly to the rest of us in the group. What a bold claim coming from someone who is – well – advanced in years, shall we say? Everyone knows our eyesight weakens with age, becoming less sharp, less clear. That’s why glasses were invented. So her claim to be seeing more clearly now, would appear preposterous if taken literally.

However, she was referring more metaphorically to the lens through which she viewed life and its events becoming more focused and less blurry as life experience informed her age. So her mind’s vision, or heart’s vision or her spiritual vision was improving with age. Some call that wisdom. Some call it the gift of experience. That’s probably why they say hindsight is 20/20 – we see clearly when we look back that which was not clear to us when we were in the midst of it.

It was Mark Twain who said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” Now that I am no longer “the young”, I couldn’t agree more with his wise words. Perfect vision is one of those attributes of youth, that atrophies with age. But, as this wise woman observed, though our physical eyesight grows weaker over time, we nonetheless began to see things more clearly as time passes. In fact, the end result will be perfect vision one day. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to that day when my vision is restored, so that I can see perfectly.

“Now I see through a glass darkly; but then I shall see face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Or the NLT translation says it this way –

“Now we/I see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we/I will see everything with perfect clarity.”

Perfect vision – perhaps if I saw more clearly, I would make fewer mistakes. I wouldn’t misjudge, or misstep or misspeak so often. I want to ask God the same thing King David asked of Him in Psalm 119:18,

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”

It is my Heavenly Father who gives me vision in the first place.

“the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.” (Psalm 146:8)

Even as my physical eyesight grows dimmer, God is already at work improving the vision He wants to give me. And Jesus gives a really good tip for improving my eyesight in Matthew chapter seven. It has to do with how I view other people and Jesus has this to say,

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

Good advice for improving my eyesight – get all the planks out. The world, including other people, will look quite different once I am seeing more clearly. When I am viewing the world and others with the vision God gives me, I doubt I will be concerned with any possible specks in the eyes of others. Seeing people as God sees them is a view full of compassion, empathy and care that my cloudy vision never shows me. I need to see things as God sees them, with the sight He gives me.

This happened to Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6:17, when Elisha wanted him to see what he couldn’t see on his own –

“Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are making my vision clearer, not dimmer, with age, because You continue to walk with me, teaching me, that I might gain knowledge and understanding from Your living Word, giving me an ever clearer perspective. And on that day when “my faith shall be sight,” I shall have that promised perfect vision at last! And then –

“I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:27)

sincerely, Grace Day

Is that because the news is always bad? Therefore, the absence of news is a good thing? I have found lately, that I am not the only one who avoids watching the news these days. Filled with current catastrophes and dire predictions of calamities to come, the news leaves me feeling anxious, fearful, powerless, hopeless and alone. It portrays a world I do not recognize, one that I do not feel safe in. Do you, like me, long for some good news, some hopeful, encouraging news that makes today bearable and tomorrow look brighter?

The people in Jesus’s day had been waiting for centuries for some good news. And then it arrived in the person of Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph, just as predicted so long ago. But would they recognize the good news when it was taking place right before their eyes? John the Baptist was put in prison for proclaiming good news (perhaps like today, those in power preferred fear to keep people down rather than hope which lifts people up) and he began to doubt. So John sent some people to Jesus to ask Him if He was the One they had been waiting for. Jesus replied –

“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22)

That is a lot of good news! And it was taking place everywhere Jesus went. Jesus was healing people, feeding people, turning water into wine, dead people into living people and the good news was being preached to the poor! This was significant. God’s love, care and miracles were not just for rich, influential people in positions of power. The good news of God was being preached freely and for free to anyone who would listen, including the poor. Isaiah had predicted this very thing, saying –

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Isaiah’s words are full of good news and Jesus was fulfilling every one of those good news bearing predictions. The poor were receiving good news for a change, there was healing for the brokenhearted, freedom, release from darkness, God’s favor, comfort, provision, beauty where desolation had been, gladness replacing mourning, praise in place of despair – this is the kind of news that people long to hear. It is news that causes celebration and brings hope.

We could use some of that good news today for sure. And the good news is – that same good news is unchanged and readily available to you and to me today, for free, just as it was then. It is called the Gospel. Now “gospel” literally means “good news.” And mankind, being under sin’s curse, desperately needs some good news. Jesus came preaching repentance, redemption and forgiveness of sins, resulting in reconciliation with God. Definitely good news.

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)

That’s really good news. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) More really good news!

Paul said in Romans 1:16 –

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

In these days when I feel surrounded by bad news, I realize I can turn my thoughts to all the good news contained in the Gospel, God’s message of good news to all of us. The angel proclaimed as much on the night of Jesus’s birth saying to the shepherds,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

This was good news, full of hope and promise and cause for rejoicing. It is still good news today – still full of hope and promise – still a reason to rejoice. Today, when bad news seems to be inescapable, I will remember Paul’s advice to the Philippians –

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. . . . And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

thank You, Heavenly Father, that the goodness of Your good news, which is eternal, is far greater than the badness of the bad news, which is temporal –

sincerely, Grace Day

I was surprised to realize that she had inched her desk closer to mine. Students don’t usually move toward the teacher’s desk. They usually move in the opposite direction, putting as much distance as possible between their desk and the teacher’s. (at least in high school, anyway) Which is why this move on her part was so unusual and why it caught my attention. Her classmates were engaged talking with each other or on their phones, many with ear pods in, oblivious to anything going on around them.

I could tell much was on her mind and that was not surprising in the least. The teenage years have notoriously been tumultuous in every era of history. Why should it be any different for today’s teenagers? These are traditionally the years of self exploration and self discovery. Teens are searching to find their place in society, to find where they fit in. Historically, the first and foremost desire of every teen is to fit in, to be accepted, to be “popular.” Actually, this could be true for any age group, but the desire for acceptance does seem more intense during the teen years.

So today’s teens are no different from the teens of generations past. Well, throw in a pandemic, fear, social chaos, forced isolation, the suspension of school along with its sports, clubs, activities and opportunities, no after school jobs as most places closed, churches, community centers and libraries closed (which are sources of support and social services) and no family gatherings – and it’s really not surprising that students’ burdens and behaviors are more challenging than ever before.

While I was debating whether I should engage her in conversation, she broke the silence and began talking to me. She needed a safe place to vent and I was happy to oblige. I listened, glad I didn’t have to say anything, fearful if I did, I would say the wrong words or use the wrong pronouns – there are so many rules these days and not being on any social media myself, I am always behind on what is current and what is already “so yesterday.”

She certainly did have the weight of the world on her shoulders. I assumed it would be the weighty decisions of deciding on college or no? and if so, which one? and what to pick as a major? or the weight of navigating the ever changing labyrinth of friends and boyfriends – in teenage world, today’s best friend is tomorrow’s arch enemy and today’s soulmate for life is tomorrow’s disdained discard in favor of a new forever love. The constant is constantly changing one’s mind about everything, clothes, music, friends, loves, careers, passions, – it is one continuous search for identity.

She was clearly miserable, experiencing heartache, rejection and uncertainty about finding her place in the future in this world. At this point she speculated that perhaps if she were a “he”, life would make more sense, she (now he) would be happier, life would be less painful and she (he) would finally fit in and her (his) problems would be behind her, (him). My heart went out to her as I continued to listen.

Then it hit me – no other generation has ever had this option before, when struggling, as we all do, to find our identity and our place in the world. Never before has changing our gender been a part of the process of growing up, of growing into an adult. Most of us changed our minds often during the childhood and teen years about food, fashion, friends, music, pastimes, people and what we wanted to be when we grew up. We didn’t have the added burden of righting some cosmic wrong and rectifying the mistake that the culture was telling us we might be if we are currently unhappy as we are.

No wonder she was conflicted and confused. Life is hard, life is painful – at any age and for both genders. There is simply no escape from this reality. She continued talking. I continued listening with growing empathy for this young girl in search of her identity. She indicated she was gender fluid or maybe nonbinary? It occurs to me this is one way to deal with this new burden of having to choose between being male or being female. Don’t choose. Keep all your options open. (that used to be called “playing the field”) This explains why students dress one way one day and a totally different way another day.

Not choosing, also postpones the need to decide on body altering surgery. It buys more time while children continue their search to find out who they are and where they fit in. I don’t think I’d fully realized how much social pressure there is currently on children and teens to make a life-long choice at such a young age. Must be overwhelming to have the responsibility of being your own creator, instead of leaving that to the God of the universe and finding your identity, purpose and place in the One who is your Creator – and not only your Creator, but the Creator of everyone and everything.

Giving that responsibility back to Creator God, would take quite a load off of anyone’s shoulders. Then they would know that they already have a place, a purpose and an identity as a completely loved, perfectly created child of God. This is what I wished that the student at my desk could know – she doesn’t have to recreate herself – she has already been created – perfectly created in the image of God – a God who knows her, loves her and values her just as she is. King David acknowledged this truth when he said,

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-16) Further confirmation is found in Ephesians 2:10 –

“For we are (Iam/you are) God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us (me/you) to do.”

Some translations say we are God’s “masterpieces” – if only we realized how “wonderfully and fearfully made” each of us is, perhaps we would be more accepting of ourselves and of each other. I feel sure that when I can accept myself, faults, weaknesses and all, then I am more willing to accept others with their shortcomings. Acceptance paves the way for more acceptance. Because my Creator, Heavenly Father, completely accepts me, I can show that same inclusive acceptance to other people.

The bell rang, cutting our conversation short. Still, I felt the weight of her burden sticking with me, unshakable and unnecessary at the same time. Unnecessary because God never meant for us to bear the burden of creating or designing ourselves. He took care of that for us.

“Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)

God made us! And He did it perfectly. We don’t have to remake ourselves. We belong! We belong to the Creator of the universe – we are His! How wonderful to belong to Someone! In His “flock” I find my place. I also find my purpose as His “workmanship/masterpiece/handiwork” because I am clearly told I was created for a purpose, a purpose which God prepared beforehand in anticipation of my existence!

I realize that the students I see every day, just like the rest of us, are sheep without a shepherd, lost and searching, until they find the Good Shepherd, Jesus. When I did, I found my place, my purpose and my identity. They too, will find all that they seek when they find Jesus, who said –

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. . . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:11 &10)

my place, my purpose, my identity, a fulfilled life – I found them all in the One who created me in the first place, and you will, too, dear readers – as I pray this confused generation will as well – find their identity in the One who created them and loves them without reservation and beyond measure – because we are created in His image (which is our eternal identity) – because we are the work of His hands –

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,’ . . . So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

“The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9)

sincerely, Grace Day

I stared at the empty shelves in disbelief. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a shopper quite as effectively as the sight of empty store shelves. Immediately, I began experiencing flashbacks. (maybe it was PTSS – post traumatic shopping syndrome) Afterall, it wasn’t that long ago that we all went through the infamous toilet paper shortage of 2020. We have currently been experiencing a baby formula shortage among others, which is attributed to the closing of a production facility and to problems with the supply chain. And now this, shelves that are usually full of peanut butter, are at present, empty.

This one caught me by surprise, but maybe I just hadn’t been paying attention? Made me wonder, what’s next? What should I be stocking up on? How long will it be before I can again purchase peanut butter? Is there an underground market for peanut butter? This is probably how people become hoarders – they are driven to it by fear and panic.

I was feeling a little bit of both those emotions myself, actually, as I stood in front of the now empty shelves, not knowing when they would again be full. It’s the not knowing, the uncertainty that produces the fear, I think. As I contemplate a change in my shopping habits (when I realize I am out of or almost out of something, is when I think to put it on the list to buy) I can’t get the story of the rich man with a good crop out of my mind. You know the one, he had such a good crop that he had no place to store his excess grain. So he tore down his barns and built bigger ones in order to store all his accumulated wealth. He had enough laid up for many years. But,

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

Other words also come to mind as I fight the fear that an empty shelf produces in me. Jesus’s words to His disciples turn my focus from empty shelves to a future full of God’s goodness.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

This reminds me of the daily manna the Israelites received in the desert each morning – it could not be stored up. If they attempted to do this, the manna became rotten real fast, foul smelling with maggots. God gave them fresh manna every morning. They had no need to store it up and they were expressly told not to, but those who did found out quickly what happens to stored up, excess manna.

“However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.” (Exodus 16:20)

The manna is kind of like our earthly treasures, “where moth and rust (or maggots) destroy, and thieves break in and steal.” Nothing is really all that secure here, but Jesus told His disciples not to worry. Jesus pointed out how God clothes the flowers so beautifully and feeds the birds, who don’t “sow or reap or store away in barns.” Then Jesus tells them,

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

Good advice, but can I do it? Panic is worry on steroids and that’s what I experience with the empty shelves and the shortages and the rumors of shortages to come. Our news is full of dire predictions every day and Jesus says not to worry? How can I not worry? Well, turns out there is something I can do. I find the very clear instructions in Philippians 4:6-7, which says –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.”

Peace is definitely preferable to panic and fear. And God’s peace is a unique gift that doesn’t depend on my earthly circumstances. The store shelves don’t have to be full for me to receive God’s peace. Jesus said to His followers,

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Even though my circumstances in this world are constantly changing and uncertain, I do not need to live in fear and panic mode, or even in a state of constant worry every time there is a new shortage of yet another item. Shortages and empty shelves may become more common in the days ahead. However, I will determine to say along with Habakkuk –

“Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

It is God, from whom all blessings flow, as the doxology says. Psalm 145 reminds me of this, I need not fear shortages and empty shelves.

“The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:14-16)

thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your infinite supply of everything good – mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace, hope, joy, comfort, healing, streams of living water in the desert, manna new every morning – great is Your faithfulness –

sincerely, Grace Day

Sound familiar? I heard those words often as a child. I was forever being told to stop, look and listen when I came to an intersection before I crossed the street. This, of course, is actually good advice for anyone walking or riding a bike, as it could help them to avoid getting hit by a car that they didn’t see or hear coming, all because they didn’t take the time to stop, look and listen.

I feel like these words are still relevant advice for me today. I often find myself at an intersection, a crossroads in my life’s journey, which I need to safely cross while also needing direction about which way to proceed. Coincidentally, my Heavenly Father’s advice is the same three words, stop, look and listen. (ok, technically four words) If only I would heed His call to stop, look and listen before I rush into the intersection oblivious to any impending danger. He implores me to “stop” –

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“Wait for the Lord and keep His way.” (Psalm 37:34)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;” (Psalm 37:7)

When I am still and waiting on God, next I am instructed to “look” –

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2)

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” (1 Chronicles 16:11)

and I am instructed to “listen” – Jesus said,

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) – I just have to listen.

I come to intersections every day in my faith walk. It is at these crossroads in life that I need to heed the admonition to stop, look and listen before attempting to cross on my own, putting myself in danger if I haven’t looked to be sure the way is clear. Seems as though I too often run full speed ahead into the crossroads, oblivious to oncoming traffic, because I haven’t stopped so as to give myself time to look to my Heavenly Father for His direction and to listen well to His words of wisdom before continuing on my journey. I want to remember to stop, look and listen every time I come to a crossroads. I will –

“Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct my paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

stopping to wait on Him, looking to Him, listening to Him,

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ ” (Jeremiah 6:16)

sincerely, Grace Day

As I reflect on my recent “one wrong turn” experience, these words from 1 Corinthians 10:13 keep coming to my mind,

“And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

He did provide a way out of the race traffic I encountered, traffic which had successfully ensnared and entangled me, bringing me to a complete standstill. I wasn’t going anywhere soon – until a way out came in the form of an exit, which I chose to take. I could have stayed in the traffic and waited for another exit further down the road to give me another opportunity to extricate myself from this jam of cars which surrounded me, or I could exit now. The choice was mine.

As I look back, I realize that my Heavenly Father always offers me a way out of situations and circumstances that are holding me hostage. I just have to be brave enough and trust Him enough to take the way of escape that He is offering to me. The choice is always mine. Take the way of escape He provides or continue in captivity with my own plan.

Seems like the escape option would be a no brainer, but that isn’t always the case. When I was stuck in traffic, at least I knew the exit I wanted was just over the bridge. But if I took the earlier exit, I would leave what I knew for what I didn’t know. I didn’t know what kind of traffic I would encounter if I took the first exit. Sometimes what I know, even if not good, seems better to me than what I don’t know. There’s comfort in what I already know and risk in what I don’t.

God will always offer me a way out, a way of escape, that’s His promise. But when He does, when He holds out His hand to me – am I brave enough to take it? Do I trust Him or do I trust my own human wisdom? At those moments of decision, like when I turned toward the race traffic rather than away from it, then later when I decided to take that first opportunity to exit the traffic rather than gamble that a better opportunity would present itself later – at those moments of decision, which are many each day, I want to remember these words –

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)

On my own, I make so many wrong turns. It really makes more sense to let my Heavenly Father direct my paths. So why don’t I do that all the time? Will I never learn from experience? I have His promises like this one,

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, (not into traffic jams – my words) He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

He stands ready to lead me, He wants to guide me – I can choose to follow or not. The choice is always mine to make. But when I go my own way, it never seems to lead me anywhere satisfying or good. I end up at the dead end of living for myself. Jesus said to Peter and his brother Andrew,

“Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” They were brave enough to accept His invitation. “At once they left their nets and followed Him (Jesus).” (Matthew 4:19-20)

Their decision reflected in their action, took courage and it cost them something. But they trusted Jesus and they took the way of escape from their current life of living for themselves that Jesus offered them. Every time I make a wrong turn and end up somewhere I don’t want to be and never intended to go, Jesus offers me a way out, a way back to Him, a way to the abundant life He came to give me and you. In fact, Jesus Himself is the way of escape, the way to reconciliation with God, the way to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You make a way for Me when I need one and there is none. When life’s circumstances and my wrong turns lead me into places of captivity, You show me the way out, the way of escape. You provide the way of escape.

“I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Isaiah 45:2–3)

Oh, Lord, when You call me by name and show me the way of escape You are making for me, may I be brave enough to take it, rather than choose to remain where my wrong turn has taken me. Give me the faith and the courage to follow where You lead, to allow You to direct my paths each day.

sincerely, Grace Day