THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS
AS THEY SEEM
If you are like me, you probably think you are an expert at looking at a situation and coming up with conclusions that you think are factual. I may see a family in a store who is dealing with a misbehaving child and I quickly judge, “If they would just…..that child would obey.†In actuality, I have no idea what the story is with that family and why that child is disobeying.
The same may be said for a marriage. Many people may have looked at you and your spouse and never imagined that you would have marriage problems. They may have thought that you were the perfect couple. Things are not always as they seem.
You may look at your spouse right now and think, “I know he/she is so happy! Just look at all the good things that are happening.†My mom thought the same thing when my dad was gone from our home. In reality, my dad was miserable. Yes, the sin was fun for a season, but he knew that he was missing something far greater at home. Things are not always as they seem.
A few days ago, I found myself sitting with a man who is standing for his marriage to be restored. He was telling us a story about flying a plane from the Bahamas into a bad storm. He explained that his instinct was to look out the window and go in a certain direction, when his controls were telling him to do something different. Things are not always as they seem.
In 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr. died as he attempted to fly a single-engine plane to Martha’s Vineyard. The NTSB said the probable cause of the accident was failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation of the pilot. Just as the gentleman explained, when flying, it is easy to think you see the horizon and know which direction to go, but you must always trust the controls. Things are not always as they seem.
Last weekend I attended a one day ladies retreat that our church hosted. During this event, a woman that I knew of gave her testimony. I knew that she attended our church. I knew that she was working for the Christian school associated with our church, but I didn’t know any of her story. Cathy stood up and explained how she had a fantastic job, but she began to steal money from her employer. At first it was a little, then it became larger amounts. Her employer finally figured out what was going on, and Cathy was arrested. This woman, who is old enough to be my mother explained the process she went through when she was arrested and sent to prison. She explained the different jails she has been in over the last two years as she served her time. She explained how her husband of 37 years stood by her while she paid for the crime she committed. She explained how her church and friends stood by her and followed the Biblical outline for restoring a person who has sinned. Today, she is restored and has paid for what she did. I sat in shock as I listened to her testimony. All I could think is, “Things are not always as they seem.â€
At the same retreat, a woman I have known for years spoke. She is currently the English teacher for my twins, Kayla and Kyle. We have ministered together and attended the same church. I thought I knew her. She began to tell the story of a girl who was born to an 18-year-old child. That child didn’t want to be a mother, so a relative ended up having the baby more and more. Over time, the baby spent more time with relatives than she did with her birth mother. After 13 years, the birth mother decided she was ready to be a mom and demanded her child back. A lengthy court process began that would not be finished until this girl was almost 18. That girl was my friend. I had no idea that she had been through this as a child. I had no idea she had to sit in front of a judge at 17 ½ and beg him to allow her to stay with the only family she had ever known. Things are not always as they seem.
It is so easy for us to evaluate a situation and decide that we know the facts. I have done it, and I am sure you have as well. There is only one person who is as He seems….that is Jesus Christ. What you see is what you get. There is no hidden story, no hidden agenda.
It is so easy to look at circumstances and think you have enough information to make a decision.
“I’m done! I’m not standing for this marriage. Look how happy he is with his new girlfriend!â€
“I know the real reason you were so late coming home!â€
“I know you are lying.â€
“My wife is having a baby with another man. She will never come home.â€
“Everyone at church looks at me because I sit alone. I know they are talking about me.â€
Have you ever uttered any of these sentences? Satan wants us to be so focused on our circumstances that, like a pilot, we don’t follow the controls, but are tempted to follow what we think we see. Jesus Christ and the Word of God are the only controls we need. Read through the Bible and recount the times that things seemed one way and then the Lord stepped in, and the circumstances changed. We need to keep our focus on Him and His Word.
Today, when Satan tempts you to look at a circumstance, remember, things are not always as they seem. Focus on Christ and give Him the thoughts that Satan is trying to use against you.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
God bless you,
Lori Steinkamp Lassen
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
AS THEY SEEM
If you are like me, you probably think you are an expert at looking at a situation and coming up with conclusions that you think are factual. I may see a family in a store who is dealing with a misbehaving child and I quickly judge, “If they would just…..that child would obey.†In actuality, I have no idea what the story is with that family and why that child is disobeying.
The same may be said for a marriage. Many people may have looked at you and your spouse and never imagined that you would have marriage problems. They may have thought that you were the perfect couple. Things are not always as they seem.
You may look at your spouse right now and think, “I know he/she is so happy! Just look at all the good things that are happening.†My mom thought the same thing when my dad was gone from our home. In reality, my dad was miserable. Yes, the sin was fun for a season, but he knew that he was missing something far greater at home. Things are not always as they seem.
A few days ago, I found myself sitting with a man who is standing for his marriage to be restored. He was telling us a story about flying a plane from the Bahamas into a bad storm. He explained that his instinct was to look out the window and go in a certain direction, when his controls were telling him to do something different. Things are not always as they seem.
In 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr. died as he attempted to fly a single-engine plane to Martha’s Vineyard. The NTSB said the probable cause of the accident was failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation of the pilot. Just as the gentleman explained, when flying, it is easy to think you see the horizon and know which direction to go, but you must always trust the controls. Things are not always as they seem.
Last weekend I attended a one day ladies retreat that our church hosted. During this event, a woman that I knew of gave her testimony. I knew that she attended our church. I knew that she was working for the Christian school associated with our church, but I didn’t know any of her story. Cathy stood up and explained how she had a fantastic job, but she began to steal money from her employer. At first it was a little, then it became larger amounts. Her employer finally figured out what was going on, and Cathy was arrested. This woman, who is old enough to be my mother explained the process she went through when she was arrested and sent to prison. She explained the different jails she has been in over the last two years as she served her time. She explained how her husband of 37 years stood by her while she paid for the crime she committed. She explained how her church and friends stood by her and followed the Biblical outline for restoring a person who has sinned. Today, she is restored and has paid for what she did. I sat in shock as I listened to her testimony. All I could think is, “Things are not always as they seem.â€
At the same retreat, a woman I have known for years spoke. She is currently the English teacher for my twins, Kayla and Kyle. We have ministered together and attended the same church. I thought I knew her. She began to tell the story of a girl who was born to an 18-year-old child. That child didn’t want to be a mother, so a relative ended up having the baby more and more. Over time, the baby spent more time with relatives than she did with her birth mother. After 13 years, the birth mother decided she was ready to be a mom and demanded her child back. A lengthy court process began that would not be finished until this girl was almost 18. That girl was my friend. I had no idea that she had been through this as a child. I had no idea she had to sit in front of a judge at 17 ½ and beg him to allow her to stay with the only family she had ever known. Things are not always as they seem.
It is so easy for us to evaluate a situation and decide that we know the facts. I have done it, and I am sure you have as well. There is only one person who is as He seems….that is Jesus Christ. What you see is what you get. There is no hidden story, no hidden agenda.
It is so easy to look at circumstances and think you have enough information to make a decision.
“I’m done! I’m not standing for this marriage. Look how happy he is with his new girlfriend!â€
“I know the real reason you were so late coming home!â€
“I know you are lying.â€
“My wife is having a baby with another man. She will never come home.â€
“Everyone at church looks at me because I sit alone. I know they are talking about me.â€
Have you ever uttered any of these sentences? Satan wants us to be so focused on our circumstances that, like a pilot, we don’t follow the controls, but are tempted to follow what we think we see. Jesus Christ and the Word of God are the only controls we need. Read through the Bible and recount the times that things seemed one way and then the Lord stepped in, and the circumstances changed. We need to keep our focus on Him and His Word.
Today, when Satan tempts you to look at a circumstance, remember, things are not always as they seem. Focus on Christ and give Him the thoughts that Satan is trying to use against you.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
God bless you,
Lori Steinkamp Lassen
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
