Shattered Glass

Wow blog

One morning when I was a young girl, I was helping my mom unload the dishwasher and I dropped one of the glass cups. I can remember the way it shattered across the floor and we paused. Embarrassment and worry flooded me, I felt the heavy weight of failure pressing on me and moved to right my wrong.

My half step was met with a “Don’t move!” She had cried out the words in worry for my bare feet, afraid I would cut my toes on the glass.

Patiently, I waited, all the while holding back tears.

Perhaps it doesn’t make sense, but as a young child I was already struggling with self-image. That week had been a particularly rough week, more than once I had felt like a failure and had been called some names which had been running through my head every day. I felt like a failure and didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. Dropping that cup was my own breaking point—as the tears came, I turned and ran from the kitchen. I can remember climbing into bed, giving into my sobs and letting all my hurt out.

It wasn’t much longer before a gentle knock sounded on my door and my mom entered. When she saw me crying, she didn’t say a word but slipped under the blanket with me, curling her body around mine. “It was just a cup,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”

I cried all the harder as she held me. Finally, when she asked me what was really wrong, I told her. She listened as I told her what had been said about me. She heard the words that I was allowing to poison my mind, vile, terrible words. Then, ever so gently, she refuted them. She told me things I couldn’t deny, truths of what I found beautiful and had inherited from her. Suddenly, in that moment, her calm words reminded me of truth. The lies were simply that, falsehoods with no ground to stand on.

Still to this day, some twenty-plus years later, I remember that feeling of security in my mother’s arms. She had listened to the worries of my heart and reminded me of truth.

And is not God’s Word the same? When our minds digest the Word of God we see the world  more clearly, we look through a different lens and dig beneath the surface to the truth underneath.

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

–Isaiah 26:3-4

Lately, this Scripture has been running through my mind on repeat. There is a road ahead that must be walked, one of those roads that has me reaching out to prayer warriors in life and asking them to pray. It’s a tough road that is not easily passed, but it is all the harder to walk when lies are allowed to run rampant.

And I will confess, that up until last week, I allowed lies and fears to run rampant. I saw the valley ahead and began to tremble. I dragged my feet, threw a tantrum, cried out to God in anger, told Him, “This is unfair,” and I didn’t want to listen to the answer. I was angry, and I told God how I felt.

But then, in the same way my mom had entered my room, a friend texted me with gentle, powerful reminders. She so kindly spoke the truth in love, recalling the attributes of God. His goodness. His faithfulness. His peace.

Ever so gently, she called forth the truth which can only be found in the Lord and made a simple statement that changed my outlook. It was an assignment to use my “spiritual eyes” to encourage and minister to those in this situation. It was a reminder to look at all through spiritual lens and see what God was doing.

Often, I have said Soli Deo Gloria and if I truly believe that, then I ought to be looking for His glory in all circumstances.

That one phrase from this friend has changed my perspective. The road ahead hasn’t changed at all, but the clouds have parted and there is light in the valley. What is ahead is not easy, but I have already seen God’s handiwork in the midst of pain. By looking with spiritual eyes and standing on God’s truths, what is ahead will be surrendered and given to God.

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

–Isaiah 26:3-4

The Lord is good, even when the road is difficult. I am reminded of that shattered glass. It took the breaking of that cup for me to see the lies I was allowing in my life. And just like this circumstance, it took a hard road and a friend pointing out truth to remind me of just Who God is. The Great I AM.

Today, I want to encourage you to look at your life circumstances with spiritual eyes. Remember His Word and dig deep into it. No matter if life is going great or if you are facing a trial, His Word is still true. Face it with confidence knowing that His peace is at hand because He can be trusted. The Lord is near and ever-present, confess to Him your fears and the lies you have been listening to, then refute them with His truth.

Like glass, lies will shatter allowing comfort and peace to enter in.

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father, I bring to you my struggles and my pain. Lord, I place before you the lies that I have been carrying, the fears I have been clinging to. Remind me of Your truth, teach me to see the works of Your hands, to look with spiritual eyes and see what You are doing. All is for Your glory, forgive my unbelief and cover me with Your peace. You are good, and I trust You alone. Amen.

 

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