Miles McNair

Get used to disappointment.” That is what the Dread Pirate Roberts declared to Inigo Montoya and if we are not careful that can be our life's mantra. Often when we look at our circumstances, relationships and our health, we can get to a point where we are just getting ready for the other foot to fall and another kick in the teeth. You don't have to look too far into this world to see an Eeyore. Hopefully, Christian, that Eeyore isn't staring back at you when you look into the mirror. Life is filled with ups and downs and sometimes more downs than ups, but our perspective as Christ followers needs to be different, it needs to be eternal. 

Scripture tells us that we should be dwelling on the good, holy and true things (Philippians 4: 8-9). It tells us that these afflictions are light and momentary (II Corinthians 4:17), and that Christ is our burden bearer (Matthew 11: 28 and 29). These are eternal truths, these are the things that the beloved need to hold to when troubles like sea billows roll. This does not mean we flitter around like naive children when troubles arise; it means we refix our gaze in an eternal direction, in the direction of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. When we do this our problems don't go away, rather as the old hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” so wonderfully expresses, "the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace." We will have perfect peace when our minds are fixed on him and we then will be salt and light to the world around us as we declare his glorious gospel even in the hardest of times.    

(Miles McNair is the connections pastor at New Life Church of Powell.)