In a world that constantly bombards us with physical realities, it is easy to lose sight of the spiritual dimension surrounding us. Yet, as believers, we are called to live with our eyes wide open, perceiving both the physical and the spiritual realms. This dual awareness can transform our perspective, renew our hope, and deepen our faith in ways we never imagined.
Remember when Jeremiah visited the potter’s house? He watched the potter skillfully shape the clay, and God revealed a profound spiritual truth. The potter represents our Creator; we are the clay in His hands. The wheel, spinning fast or slow, symbolizes the circumstances of our lives. The vessel may become marred, but the potter didn’t discard it. Instead, He reshapes it into something new, something that pleases him.
This beautifully illustrates God’s work in our lives. Even when we feel broken or useless, we remain in the Potter’s hands, in His hands. He continues to mold us, using every circumstance – good or bad – to shape us into vessels fit for His purpose. Isn’t that great? It’s comforting! No matter how dire our situation may seem, God is still at work, fashioning us into something beautiful.
But how often do we lose sight of this spiritual reality? Like Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6, we can become overwhelmed by the physical challenges surrounding us. The servant woke up one morning to find the city encircled by an enemy army. Panic-stricken, he cried out, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
Elisha’s response is both striking and instructive: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then, he prayed a simple yet powerful prayer: “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
At that moment, the Lord opened the young man’s spiritual eyes, and he saw an astounding sight – the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. The physical reality hadn’t changed, but the servant’s perception had been radically altered. He now saw the spiritual forces at work, and his fear dissipated in light of this new understanding.
How often do we find ourselves surrounded by seemingly insurmountable obstacles? We look at our circumstances – financial struggles, health issues, relational conflicts – and, like Elisha’s servant, we cry out in despair. But what if we’re missing the bigger picture? What if God’s protection and provision surround us just beyond our physical sight?
The Apostle Paul understood this principle well. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, he writes, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Paul encourages us to shift our focus from temporary, physical realities to eternal, spiritual truths. Our bodies may be aging, our circumstances may be challenging, but inwardly, we are being renewed. Our present struggles, which Paul boldly calls “light afflictions,” are producing something of immeasurable value—an eternal weight of glory.
This doesn’t deny the reality of our difficulties. Sometimes, they are hard… really hard—harder than hard. But it does place our challenges in the context of eternity. When we view our lives through this lens, even our most pressing problems begin to shrink compared to the grand tapestry God is weaving.
As we step into each new day, each new year, let’s do so with our eyes wide open. Let’s commit to seeing the physical challenges surrounding us and the spiritual realities that supersede them. When we feel surrounded by problems, may we remember that the truth is that God’s protective presence surrounds our enemies.
Living with this dual awareness can transform our entire outlook on life. It can turn our moments of panic into opportunities for faith, despair into hope, and weakness into strength.
So today, whatever you’re facing, whatever army seems to be encircling you, pause and pray. Ask God to open your eyes. Look beyond the physical and glimpse the spiritual forces at work on your behalf. For indeed, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
