I’ve heard the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” many times, yet the other day it came alive to me.

Standing in front of my subject, I see beauty and want to capture it on camera.  I set my eye to the window viewer, and all I see is blur.

Simply aiming my camera at the subject and clicking will not yield a picture that accurately depicts the beauty I behold with my natural eye.

It takes precision & care to focus & see beauty.

Then I think about my own life.

I naturally look at my life through blurred vision.

How do I know this?

Because I don’t always see myself through the eyes of my Beholder {Jesus}.

My vision is blurred.

When I look at my own life, I see a mess, flaws, imperfections, failures.

I see cracks & blemishes.

I see blur.

 When I was a child, I spoke, thought, and reasoned in childlike ways as we all do.
But when I became a man, I left my childish ways behind. 
For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things,
as when we stare into polished metal.
I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture.
But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face.
In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (The Voice)

I see blur, yet Jesus is calling me to adjust my lens and see things clearly; through His eyes.

When Jesus looks at me, He sees me the same way I see my photographed subject: beautiful.

Instead of looking at the thorns surrounding the rose, I see the beauty within the petals:

The colors, the softness, the formation; all amazing & pleasing in my sight.

The same applies to Jesus & His view of me.

Instead of a tattered past, He sees mulch used to fertilize the soil of my heart, yielding growth.

Instead of blemishes, He sees color, uniqueness & gifts He can use for His glory.

Instead of thorns, He sees the softness of petals blossoming into beauty amidst the pain.

Instead of blur, He sees beauty.

Ultimately, the choice is ours to make.

Will we view ourselves through the blurred lens of our insecurities, or will we embrace the true clarity spoken over us in God’s Word?

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Luke 4:18

Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.
Psalm 119:18

My personal prayer is that God will continue to adjust my lens & give me eyes to see all things from His perfect perspective.

How may I pray for you today, friend?

 
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of three amazing writing communities.
Won’t you join me over at the blogs of two of my dear friends?

Holley Gerth, with Coffee for your Heart

Simply Beth, with Three Word Wednesday

Rebekah A Hughes with Words of Life Wednesday