Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? Mark 8:18
There is a saying in India, “When a pickpocket meets a saint, all he sees are the pockets.” Our motives shape what we see – and don’t see – around us.
Consider the fabled story of the man from Colorado who moved to Texas and built a house with a large picture window from which he could view hundreds of miles of rangeland. “The only problem is,” he said, “there’s nothing to see.” About the same time, a Texan moved to Colorado and built a house with a large picture window overlooking the Rockies. “The only problem is I can’t see anything,” he said. “The mountains are in the way.”
People can be blind to what others see clearly. We’re all prone to this problem. We all share a tendency toward denial, an emotionally comfortable strategy that protects us from the distress that recognizing the harsh truth would bring. So we resort to filtering out information, rationalizing mistakes, avoiding responsibility.
The truth as the light, makes us blind. –Albert Camus
Many of us will do just about anything to steer clear of the truth if it might hurt. To make the matter of getting to the truth worse, we have to see that people around us tend to collude with our denial. That’s especially true of our spouse. At an almost unconscious level, we can work our relationship to make sure they avoid honest, constructive feedback, acting as though everything is fine when in fact it is not. If we are not intentional about staying clear of this tendency, we buy the illusion of harmony at the cost of the truth. And we miss the path that could take us to emotional maturity and spiritual health.
So what illusion might be standing in the pathway to your well-being? Or to look at it from another angle, what is God trying to show you? How is he revealing himself to you? What are you not seeing? Of course, you can’t answer that question now. It’s an answer that comes only in contemplation and time – as long as we are looking for it.
Reflect and Respond
How is God revealing himself to you these days?
Go ahead, tell us in the comments.
Related Resource
Offering wisdom and insights for applying biblical truths to our relationships, this book encourages couples to connect and communicate every day. This practical, uplifting guide is perfect for busy couples who long to experience a stronger relationship and better communication. Easy-to-follow daily readings focus on loving each other the way God loves us.
God is reminding me that “attitude” is important. If I focus on and verbalize everything that I’m annoyed with; guess what! My attitude affects my relationship in a negative way. I read in my devotion this morning,” be thankful in all situations.”!it was hard to do given I had to clean off 4 inches of fresh snow from my car and we already have about 3 feet of snow! But i said thank you Lord for the snow! I was reminded of that Scripture,” though your sins were as scarlet they are white as snow! “Forgiven! Thank you Jesus
That`s so true!, but what about if only one party sees what is going on in the marriage and the other thinks “everything is just fine”?. And evevn though, for years, you talk about the same issue with your mate and there`s no change at all, what is the next step that needs to be taken?. (I`d love you to talk when you`re in a “boring marriage”).
Maritza: I would look for the reason. Does he not know how you feel, or does he, and just not care? The reason dictates the next action.
I am thankful God has been revealing Himself to me for the last couple of months. The longer I have been in this christian walk the more I recognize appreciate the times He is clearly leading my path. He is also revealing Himself to my husband and my 12 year old son. It is our turn to follow in faith.
Only if God’s self-revelations to you and your family are conformable with the promise in the terms and seal of the “new covenant”, will you also grow nonstop in his grace and knowledge. Blessings.
Just today I was telling someone that spouses owe each other the truth. As Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” How we feel is a very important truth. If we can’t share that truth in love, we are in for some serious marriage trouble.
Paul Kranz
Riverview, Florida
The secret of a healthy marriage is protected by God’s PATENT of his own divine image which is transferable to the spouses from “the tree of life”, a.k.a., Christ’s death on the cross.