By Shewanda Riley

“You’ll never have 20/20 vision.” I remember the mixed emotions that I felt
when my eye doctor told me this a number of years ago. First, I was thankful that he
was honest with me about the health of my eyes but disappointed that I’d never see
with the perfection of 20/20 vision. Being an optimist, I was hopeful that he’d somehow
be wrong and that my vision would somehow improve over the year if I took care of my
eyes.

However, when he told me the exact same thing the following year during my
annual eye exam, I finally had to accept the truth. Perhaps to answer the quizzical look
on my face, my eye doctor explained that because of issues I have with my eyes like
astigmatism even with contact lens or glasses, I’d probably never see with 100% clarity.
What is so interesting to me every year when I get my eyes examined is how a
small adjustment in the contact lens prescription can make such a big difference in how
clearly, I can see. I’ve learned that it’s the lens that I’m looking through that makes all
the difference. The correct eye prescription can make the fuzzy thing that I’m looking at
actually look clearer.

As we continue in the second half of a year that seems to be moving so quickly
so many of us are still managing the lingering impact of negative experiences including
failures and disappointments from earlier this year. However, for some of us, it will be
hard because of how we choose to see those situations. This is even when God has
delivered us from jobs that we hated and relationships that were toxic. A friend of mine
recently texted that one reason why it’s hard to move on from negative situations is the
fact that we hold onto the hope of what could have been and not accept the reality of
what it actually was/is. In other words, we have to make a choice on how we will see
things. One question that I’ll be asking myself the rest of this year is whether I’m
looking through at my circumstances through the lens of faith or fear?

Ephesians 1:18 offers insight on how we choose to see things. “I ask—ask the
God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and
discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see
exactly what it is he is calling you to do,” (The Message ).

I like this version from the Message Bible because it emphasizes how having
clear vision makes it easier to see and ultimately be obedient to the calling of God.
For some, it seems pretty obvious that we have to see clearly to obey. However, for
some who have looked at the world through the lenses of fear and doubt, it’s actually
very hard. And much like our natural vision requires corrective lenses, we also may
have to use corrective lenses of renewed faith to clear up fuzzy spiritual vision.

Shewanda Riley is a Dallas, Texas based author of “Love Hangover: Moving From Pain
to Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book
of Prayers for Writers.” Email her at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or follow her
on Twitter @shewanda.