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Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina.
This is the last month of the year, and as usual, I take a look at my path through 2021. Many things happened! I am realizing that each situation was a simple thing to be solved and not a big problem as I thought. It is true what Paul says: Difficulties are small and will not last long, and indeed I can see how each situation made me grow and allowed me to end this year with another perspective. This makes me think of these words from Paul:
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
That's totally true! What we see today goes away day by day, and what we DO NOT see is immutable. Therefore, remembering pain is a way of understanding that it is perishable and that today is a new opportunity to give thanks for it.
I want to share with you four ways I can take advantage of my pain, especially in 2021!
1. I use my pain to glorify God and draw me closer to Him. When we are in pain, we go in deeper search for God. It is a new opportunity to trust more in His power.
2. My pain allows me to be more like Christ. We are more sensitive and reverent when we are in pain. We approach the likeness of Christ with a pure heart.
3. Pain brings me closer to others. That's right, pain brings me closer to my community to solve my problems.
4. It is an opportunity to testify about Christ. Think for a moment… What is it that strikes you the most about someone else when you meet them? Many times, it is the person's pain and how she has overcome it! So, how many people could come to Christ with your testimony?
In a few days, 2021 will be over, so, let's take this opportunity to redefine our vision about pain. Remember that pain is a warning sign that tells us when something is wrong and also, God uses pain to protect us, take care of us, guide us, and make us grow.
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Written by Jeana Poole, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado
“I can see really good because of my far away eyes,” my four-year-old told me.
“Your what?” I asked.
“My far away eyes. It means I can see through things to spot something I need to see.”
‘Far away eyes’ have become a sort of running joke in our family, but something about that phrase has always struck me as deeply theological. To see through things to spot something we need to see. Isn’t that what we’re called to do as Christians?
We’re told in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (ESV). It’s all too easy to focus on the things we can see. They’re right in front of us!! But we are told to do the harder thing, to look at the unseen things.
Take the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:8-17 as an example. Syria (Aram) is getting ready to go to war with Israel, but Elisha keeps warning the Israelite king about which way to go so that the Syrians (Arameans) can’t attack. The Syrian king is troubled by this and decides he needs to capture Elisha, so he sends horses, chariots, and a great army to surround the city where Elisha is staying. Elisha’s servant wakes up, sees this great multitude and, to put it mildly, freaks out. Elisha tells him,
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16-17, ESV)
The servant wasn’t using his far away eyes. He was so focused on what was in front of him, that he couldn’t see what God was doing around him. I wonder how many of us are like the servant, too focused on whatever the enemy is doing in front of us and forget to open our eyes to what God is doing around us.
As we close out 2021, I challenge us to use our ‘far away eyes’ going into 2022. Let us focus our vision on the unseen things. Let us ask our Father to open our eyes to what is around us, to see through whatever obstacles are in our way.
Where will your far away eyes take you in 2022?