What do you see?...

​          As the story goes, the apostle, Peter, was thrown into prison by king Herod for no very good reason more than he realized that it would please the Jews. He had him bound with two chains between two soldiers with even more guards outside the door. During the course of the night, while he was asleep, an angel of the Lord came and touched him on his side prompting him to get up. Immediately his chains fell off. The angel proceeded to lead him out of the prison and into the streets where he left him. Peter then made his way to Mary’s house where he knocked on the door. Inside they had been praying for him consistently. As he continued knocking, a servant girl came to answer the door and when she heard Peter’s voice she was so happy that she hurried back inside without opening the door to tell everyone that he was outside. But they did not believe her... (Acts 12:1-17)
         There are times when we may find ourselves in a prison of sorts, simply because challenges are a part of life and when you are a child of God, the challenges sometimes seem to be greater. But the thought that comes to mind with this story is that sometimes we may be knocking, trying to get people’s attention and no one seems to be taking us on. Peter was knocking on the door of the house where people were praying for his release from prison, yet, no one believed that he was actually there! Yes, they were praying but they expected him to still be bound, helpless ... and hopeless.
         Sometimes, because people know you are in “prison”, that you are in a “mess” they don’t expect anything good to happen to you or to come out of you. Just like Peter was bound with chains between two soldiers, your future may not be looking very bright. When people see you, all they see is your handicap, your confinement, your sickness, your limitations, your job loss, your failed business, your failed relationship. So, when they look at you, they see your situation not you. That’s what the church was seeing, that’s why when he came to them, freed from prison and knocking on the door, they did not believe that he was actually there.
            But here’s the thing: you may be “bound,” you may be going through what you are going through . . . but the GOD you serve is not bound with you! He is not in a mess, in fact He is in there with you to use you right where you are. You don’t stop being God’s child because of your situation; you don’t stop being blessed because you are in a mess; you don’t stop being worthy of God’s love because of where you are; and you don’t stop being a vessel God can use for His honor and glory just because of where you are and how people see you. 
The wonderful thing with God is that HE is not limited by our limitations, HE is not confined by our restrictions and HE is not any less God or less powerful because we are dealing with what we are dealing with. It really does take perspective. God isn’t moved I think by what our challenge is . . . HE is moved by our faith and trust in Him in the midst of our challenges. He is moved by our choice to keep our eyes on HIM instead of doing like everyone else and focusing our eyes on our challenge.
         I am reminded of king Jehoshaphat when he heard about the great army coming against him. Things did not look good for him and his people and I’m sure their enemies were looking at them as insignificant and incapable of fighting against them. They saw Judah’s defeat BUT they could not see their GOD. What they didn’t know was that while they were focusing on their defeat at their hands, Judah was looking to the God who could deliver them out of their hands ... and He did (2 Chronicles 20:1-12).
         In my own life, yes there are times when others may look at my limitations, my challenges and so determine what they think I can or cannot do but I know that what they don’t always focus on is my God, fighting on my behalf and doing wonderful things in my life even while I’m going through. God has never waited for my challenges to end, He simply continues to use me right where I am no matter those limitations, shortcomings or challenges. 
         What are people seeing when they look at you? Are they looking at the problem or are they looking at the God who is able to do the impossible? I think though that the greater question is, what are you seeing, what are you focusing on when life hits you hard? This is what God uses many times to shift our focus back to Him. Are you following His lead or are you still in a pity party focused on what you cannot change by yourself? Let me encourage and remind you to stop seeing yourself in the negative way others may be looking at you. They don’t determine your destiny or your success ... God does. So feel free to let your eyes swing straight to Him. Your situation has not shifted HIS focus ... don’t let it shift yours!
         If you have not yet shifted your eyes and your heart to the One capable of doing wonderful things in and for you even as you face life’s challenges, I invite you to give your heart to Him right now. Let Him come in and take the controls and do in and through you the wonderful things that your challenges, people and even you, say and believe you can’t! 

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