Hello, friends and family! My sincere apologies for the long dry spell with no posts. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this year has been crazy. This post has been in my mind and heart for a while–but I now finally have all the words to say it.
There is a story in the Bible that I have been unable to get out of my head during these many long, long months of 2020.
It stars Elisha, prophet of God. But, more importantly, it stars a truth that can change how we look at everything in life.
Set the scene: Elisha is the prophet of God in the nation of Israel. In this time, a prophet was many things: an advisor to kings, performer of miracles, but especially a deliverer of messages from God. At this point, Israel is being attacked by one of many local enemies, the Arameans. Each time the Arameans try to make a move against Israel, God tells Elisha their plans, and Elisha tells the king of Israel.
After a few repeat cycles of this, the king of Aram starts getting fed up. He suspects a spy in their midst. Nope, his men tell him, it’s that meddling prophet, Elisha! We need to get him! He’s in a city called Dothan! Let’s get him now!
The scene switches to Elisha and his servant in Dothan. One morning, Elisha’s servant wakes up to a horrible sight. The city is surrounded by Aramean’s troops.
“Oh no, my master!” The servant cries. “What are we to do?”
“Do not worry,” Elisha replies. “For those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.”
Elisha prays for the servant’s eyes to be opened, and the servant sees that “the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha”.
Elisha was completely protected by God. And he could see it, because he trusted that God was God, no matter who came against him.
His “vision” was not what he could see around him physically. His vision was God.
One of the oldest recorded hymns (and my personal top favorite) is titled “Be Thou My Vision”. It speaks of the many things that God is and can be to His people, with singer asking God to be all those things to him/her.
The verses are good, but the first phrase of the hymn is what has been on repeat in my brain lately.
Be Thou my Vision.
What does it look like for God to be our Vision—our way of seeing and framing life?
If God is our Vision, what does the change about how we react to the trials of life?
This year has been hard, and sad, and fraught with many things that make me want to tear out my hair in frustration. But Covid is not my Vision. Border closings and quarantines and missing family are not my Vision. Riots and political strife and anger are not my Vision. Work craziness is not my Vision.
God is my Vision.
I don’t always do a great job at letting that be so. There are many days when everything but God is my Vision. I have work to finish, papers to grade, students to wrangle…often all before 9 a.m. I worry and wonder about the future of my own country and many others. I have to regulate myself, as I’m working to make healthier choices and take better care of myself.
I have so many other things that could be my Vision. But only one who is worthy. Only one who will give me the correct perspective on life.
In the story, Elisha’s servant was looking at things from a human perspective. And, from a human perspective, they were screwed. His Vision was in the chariots and horses that surrounded him and Elisha.
But Elisha could see things through God’s perspective, so he knew that they were saved.
If God is our Vision, it means that we trust Him enough to know that he works things out for our good. Not our ease, not our comfort, not our American Dream blessing—but our GOOD. Our sanctification. His will is for us to look like Him.
God does not take His hands off our lives for a moment. So, when the chariots and horsemen come, stop for a moment. Close your eyes.
Ask for God to be your Vision, and for Him to open your eyes to see Him surrounding you.
You might not immediately see fiery angels. (I have yet to see any, to my immense disappointment.) But you might suddenly feel a break in the weariness. Or a new courage where you had none.
“The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still.”
Face the storm. Face the war. Face the battle. And let the cry of your heart at each point be:
“God, be my Vision.”
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I’m doing well here in Thailand. I miss you all back in the States, but I’m enjoying my students and the new challenges of my job. We have our October Break in a couple of weeks (thank goodness!) and I am looking forward to visiting Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. Let me know in the comments if there is anything I can be praying for people about. I want to be better at doing updates in the coming months, so look for another post soon. Love you all!
Teach; Think; Write. 