Upheld in Vision

Vision vs Reality

Interesting things: vision and reality. One appears to be a nebulous castle in the air, and the other is a hard core, inescapable life situation.

Or are they?

What Happens Underneath

I love this July 6 devotional from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. It always seems to come round and round for me. Different stages of life, another vision, and another pummeling. Yep, pummeling.

But how else are we to be shaped for God’s purposes in our lives?

Oswald talks about God giving the vision “before a thing is made real.” What? But yes. He may put ideas into our heads that we think must be impossible. We can’t do that—can we? Still, if there is no vision, what kind of life lay before us? One with no meaning? Or no purpose? Or no direction? Who wants to live like that?

First—The Valley

Nooooo! Not really? Chambers said, “God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision … every vision will be made real if we will have patience.”

He points out that before the valley experience, the vision is not real in us. We must face the fires and the floods. The lightning bolts and earthquakes. The losses (ouch!).

Dangers:

• Don’t faint or lose heart
• Don’t give up
• Don’t lose patience (God is never in a hurry)
• Don’t run away
• Don’t blame
• Don’t try DIY

Then—The Reality

When we submit to the hand of God to direct, guide and steer our lives, we will be amazed at what results.

Oswald finishes this day’s devotion with this, “If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you.”

It seems to me that the best things come about when God has His way with us. In this life and on into the next.

• Broken dreams restored (better than the old ones)
• New dreams burst upon us (excitement in the fresh opportunities)
• Delightful new lifestyle roadmaps (braving the adversities)
• Relationships restored (if we act on courage and humility)
• Peace in our hearts and minds (regardless of circumstances)
• Joy overflowing in our spirits (no matter what on the outside)
• Assurance of eternity with him (skipping into the sunset, holding His hand)
• Restored to loved ones who have gone before us (sweet reunion)

We are a people most blessed and with so much to look forward to.

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” (Revelation 21:5).