David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine! … Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” [1 Samuel 17:32,36-37 (CSB)]
When someone has an unduly optimistic or positive view of things, they are often said to be wearing “rose-colored glasses.” According to Adam Anderson, a University of Toronto professor of psychology, our moods do affect the way we see things and, as moods change, so does our visual perception. “Good and bad moods literally change the way our visual cortex operates,” says the professor about a 2009 study he conducted. “In a positive mood,” he explained, “our visual cortex takes in more information, while negative moods result in tunnel vision.” He concluded that the better our mood, the better able our brains are to comprehend what it is our eyes are seeing. In short, we see better when we have a positive outlook of “rose-colored glasses”!
I imagine it was a set of “rose-colored glasses” that allowed young David to see the possibility of defeating Goliath with only his sling. In all of Saul’s army, there had to have been other men equally skilled with a sling but, because of their despair and pessimistic outlook, they had tunnel vision and only saw the threatening giant. Instead of an undefeatable opponent, however, David saw possibilities. Before him was an enormous man carrying a javelin, spear, and sword who was so encumbered by 125 pounds of armor that he needed another man to carry his shield. With his rose-colored glasses, David saw what the men didn’t—someone who wouldn’t be able to move fast enough to dodge a well-aimed stone. That stone came from a shepherd’s sling used to kill wild animals and, according to Malcom Gladwell, it had the stopping power of a .45 caliber handgun. With their defeatist attitude, Saul and his army only saw the power of the enemy. David’s optimism, combined with his faith in the Lord, allowed him to clearly recognize both the enemy’s weakness and his own strength and skill!
Rose-colored lenses in glasses are said to sharpen contrast, improve depth perception, and reduce glare. When wearing them, however, one must exercise caution. Things like warning flags, traffic lights, brake lights, and stop signs are colored red to make them more visible and prevent accidents, but that effect is lessened when someone is wearing glasses with pink or red lenses. In the same way, when seeing the world through “rose-colored glasses,” we must use good judgment and not get so enthusiastic about possibilities that we overlook hazards and problematic realities. In spite of his optimistic outlook, David was cautious enough to have not one but five stones in his pouch before facing Goliath. Nevertheless, the shepherd king missed all the red flags when he wanted to move the Ark of the Covenant and again when he spotted Bathsheba on the rooftop! Those times, David’s confidence and enthusiasm caused him to move out of God’s will and into his own!
Faith in God is what offers us the kind of rose-colored glasses that give clarity to life and allow us to see the big picture. It is knowing Jesus that enables us to face each morning with optimism, joy, and hope. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to see our challenges as opportunities to do God’s will. The “rose-colored glasses” of a positive attitude help us see what is right in front of us. They help us notice any weakness in the opposition, find detours in life’s roadblocks, identify solutions to our problems, and spot help when we need it. So, put on your “rose-colored glasses” and see what wonderful things the day will bring! After all, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” [Ps 118:24]
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. [Helen Keller]
El Roi is one of the Hebrew names for God. We find it in Genesis 16 when Hagar encountered God in the desert and addressed Him as El Roi, meaning “the God who sees me.” After God told Hagar she was pregnant, He said to name her soon to be born son Ishmael. A combination of the Hebrew el and shama, the boy’s name means “God hears” or “God listens.” God both heard and saw Hagar because He’s omnipresent and omniscient; He can be everywhere and know everything at all times. There’s no place we can hide where we’re unknown, unseen, or unheard by Him.
I think of Jesus’ instructions every time I pack for a trip! Take only what I’ve got on my back and the one pair of shoes on my feet? He’s got to be kidding! When we’re taking a trip, wanting to be prepared for any eventuality, it seems like I pack everything but the kitchen sink!
Martha, the elder sister of Lazarus and Mary, was chided by Jesus when she complained about her sister not helping with dinner preparations. Her fault, however, was in her fretfulness and reproach more than the work she was doing. She had more than a dozen hungry men to feed but, wanting to be the proper hostess, Martha’s preparations probably were more elaborate than necessary. Could it be that she’d become more interested in impressing her dinner guest than knowing Him? “Worried and upset by many things” that night, she lost sight of Jesus. Praiseworthy service must never obscure our view of the Lord!
Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the apostles obediently and courageously returned to Jerusalem. They got down to business and selected a replacement for Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. With the addition of Matthias, there again were twelve apostles and about 120 believers/disciples and the entire group devoted themselves to prayer. Picture this diverse group of people. How did they keep the faith? Did they wonder what exactly they were waiting for and when it would happen? Where was this baptism with the Holy Spirit Jesus promised them? When would Jesus to return? Did they grow impatient or begin to doubt what they’d seen with their eyes?
Devotions of the Heart 