Recently I saw several chips in my car’s windshield. There was a large one in the center of the windshield and several others in various spots.
“Mom, are you sure it’s chipped?” my son asked. But I had tried washing the windshield and I could still see the cracks. So — I made an appointment to get it repaired. When I got to my appointment, however, it turned out that my “chipped” windshield wasn’t chipped at all. Tree sap had hardened and crystallized in several places, and when the sun shone through the interior it looked like cracked glass. The technician took a glass-safe razor blade and scraped away the hardened sap. “It happens more often thank you think,” he said.
We can be so certain that what we see is true. It takes something outside of ourselves to show us the reality.
Then comes the work of scraping away what is left behind. Just like scraping off the hardened tree sap revealed clean, clear glass underneath, removing the residue of our false perceptions helps us find clarity, truth, and peace.
Our perceptions can be skewed in so many ways and for so many reasons. We need something strong and sharp to right them.
Thankfully, Hebrews 4:12 says:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV)
Maybe these thoughts and attitudes have been influenced —by people, circumstances, deep hurts, and so much more — to become skewed, damaging perceptions that we need the strength and sharpness of God’s word to cut away.
Our perceptions can become so tightly adhered to our hearts and minds that they feel like truth, but God can still do the hard work of removing those when we turn to Him. We might ask ourselves:
- What are false beliefs or perceptions we have about ourselves?
- What are the core beliefs we have about our own value or the value of other people?
- Do we view ourselves through the lens of grace or the skewed lens of shame and condemnation?
- What are the hurtful or damaging messages we’ve internalized and need to get rid of?
- What are the false perceptions we have about who God is?
- What are the “shoulds” we’ve plastered onto ourselves until we’re riddled with guilt over things that God never intended for us to strive for at all?
In the brave work of our surrender, letting go of control, and asking God to reveal the wisdom we need, He can do the work.
Whether we’re mired in the stresses of everyday life or wracked with grief over the hurt, pain and loss we’ve experienced, we desperately need God’s word to reveal the truth of our false perceptions about ourselves, others, and who God is.
To have the Holy Spirit gently and lovingly tell us where we’re missing His truth, and where we’ve somehow, somewhere along the way begun to see our own skewed perceptions as absolutely reality. Just like the razor blade could scrape away the tree sap and still leave the windshield perfectly intact, God can powerfully yet mercifully guide us back to truth, opening our eyes to our wrong perceptions while protecting our hearts.
I’m thankful that we have a God with a love so tender that it whispers to our deep brokenness. But I’m also glad that we have a God whose word penetrates so sharply that it can cut away the false, unnecessary, and harmful perceptions that are damaging us and preventing us from living in the abundance of His peace, joy, and love.
Create Space for Grace
Soak in God’s word. Let it wash over you. Create space to be with God in this moment. Breathe, pray, and consider a step he’s inviting you to take with him.
Breathe
Breathe in: God, your word is alive.
Breath out: Help me to see only your truth.
Pray
Father,
I lift up your name and praise you for being a God of such tender mercy and yet such incredible power. Thank you that your word is sharp enough and strong enough to take away our false perceptions, yet has the precision and gentleness to keep every part of us carefully attended to.
Open my eyes and show me today where my perceptions are wrong. Help me to get rid of what isn’t true and what isn’t aligned with your word. Guide me to know the truth so that I can have the peace and joy you’ve promised; and be the doorway of love that leads others to you.
In Jesus’ Precious Name,
Amen
Take a Step With Jesus
Ask — Lord, Where do I have false perceptions today? Would you reveal them to me and replace them with truth according to your Word?