When my boys were little, they loved spy wear: hidden cameras, clandestine talking devices, backwards footprints, you name it. One of their pieces of equipment that intrigued me the most, however, was the night vision glasses. One could wear them in the darkest places and still be able to see clearly. I have no idea how it worked, but it was pretty cool.
I’ve often wished for a good pair of “night-vision” glasses. Not so I can sneak around and spy on my family and friends, and not even to be able to see the trail to the washroom in dark campgrounds. Rather, I have often wished for “night-vision” glasses in the midst of hard times.
You know what I mean. When we’re going through hard times, it is as if the sun no longer shines. We live in the moment, and we can’t see anything beyond what we are going through at any particular moment in time. Anyone who has received a bad medical diagnosis knows what I’m talking about. So do those who have lost loved ones, who are still without work, or who are in bad relationships. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to be able to put on a pair of “night-vision” glasses so that we can see beyond the pain? Beyond the despair? Beyond our horrible circumstances?
I have good news, friends.
No, I don’t have a pair of “night-vision” glasses, but I know Someone who does.
Take a look at this verse: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Ps 139:11-12, NIV2)
Did you see it? The darkness–our darkness!–is as light to God! God wears night-vision glasses! When we can’t see our hands in front of our faces because of the blackness of our illness and our circumstances and our pain, God sees it all as if it were light!
Good news, isn’t it?
But it gets better.
When my boys put on their night-vision glasses, all they could do was “see” the path in front of them. They could do nothing to change it. But when God puts on His “night-vision” glasses, not only does He illuminate the path, but He can fix it!
Consider this text: “…but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1Cor 10:13, NKJV)
That’s it! He sees the darkness of our lives as if it were day, and He promises to make the way of escape! We don’t need night-vision glasses! All we need is trust in the One who already has them!
Whatever it is you are going through right now, no matter how dark the circumstances of life around you, remember: God sees with night-vision glasses, and He will make the way of escape so that you can bear it.
Will you join me in putting your Trust in the One who wears “night-vision glasses” all the time?
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.