Discernment Is Seeing Things As God Does

by Kevin Burton

    If you say someone is “looking through rose-colored glasses,” you’re not giving that person a compliment, are you?

   You’re saying they have reached the wrong conclusion due to a faulty mindset or bias.

     “A cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis,” is the definition of rose-colored glasses on dictionary.com.

   There doesn’t seem to be an equivalent idiom for pessimists, at least not one that has caught on widely.  I found references to black glasses or gray glasses, but nobody I know uses those terms.

   But are we not all wearing glasses of some sort? And do we not cheerfully reach for them each and every day?

   As a sports fan, when someone makes a big play in an important game, I find it great fun to find the radio play-by-play calls for that play, from the winning side and then from the losing side.

The calls are usually quite different, often hilariously so. In that case your “glasses” color your view based on what sports team you support. This sports bias is a source of amusement. But things get much more serious when you think about what lens you use to evaluate life as a whole. We call that worldview.

If you aren’t seeing things the way God sees them, you don’t have a realistic view. And that’s much worse than having an overly optimistic view.    

Also, you need to know how I am defining realistic. There is an unseen spiritual realm that is just as real as the physical world. If you can’t see it, you don’t have a clear view of what is going on in your world.

If you don’t acknowledge the spiritual world, that’s a problem for you that will one day get much worse.

A recent message from In Touch Ministries on the subject of spiritual discernment got me thinking along these lines.  

“Spiritual discernment is the ability to see life from a godly vantage point,” the message reads.  “One of the primary ways we develop this perspective is through Scripture—God’s reliable revelation of Himself.”

“Throughout the Bible, He shows us who He is and how He works. Though the stories took place centuries ago, the principles remain relevant, offering discernment and guidance for today.”

  What’s more, since the words are inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, “the words don’t simply sit on the page; they illuminate our heart and reveal our thoughts and motives,” the message reads.

“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12, NASB).

“When we approach Scripture with an open spirit, God gently brings to light things we might not see on our own—hidden motives, blind spots, and areas where we need to grow,” In Touch writes.

  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for^]instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NKJV)

“Spiritual discernment involves seeing not just our circumstances but also ourselves from God’s perspective. As we regularly spend time in His Word, we gain insight into who we really are and who He’s calling us to become.”  

“Have you been avoiding deeper engagement with Scripture? If so, remember this: When God reveals something in us that needs attention, His purpose is always restorative – helping us become healthier, freer, and more like Christ,” In Touch writes.