How we picture things in our head will order our days. Those pictures, our expectations of what things are or what will happen will influence our actions right now. If we see things rightly, if we see things as they are, we will be able to make better choices of how we get there. If we cloud those future events or relationships or even objects with worry or misunderstanding or fear we are going to waste a lot of time. And the longer we sit in that wrong perspective mentally, the farther we will get from the truth.
Sometimes the journeys our wrong perspectives take us on are -- well, the only word I can think of -- stupid.
I saw this picture (which was about twice the size of this one) and heard the word "badge" and I pictured a gold-colored badge the size of my husband's law enforcement badge. My husband's badge is about the size of my palm -- like those badges sheriffs and police officers carry.
All day I looked for this badge. Ryan said it was in a box. I figured the box must be the size of a watch box. I went through his stuff from college several times. I moved his bed and looked under it. I looked in his college backpack many times. I checked all the pockets. I asked the kids several times to pray I could find this big badge.
How could something this size be lost?
As I searched I pictured Ryan wearing this thing like an old lady wearing a big brooch. I thought it would look pretty gaudy, but hey, I've never been in a Greek organization so what do I know.
When Ryan returned later that night I sadly told him I couldn't find it. He is a very positive person and said it would be fine. Ten minutes later he comes out and says, 'Silly me. It was in my suit pocket all this time."
In his hands he held out his. badge. It is less than an inch wide. It was not even close to what I was picturing. He reminded me he told me what kind of box it came in. Of course I pictured the box differently too. I had even seen that pin several times (even pulled it out of the suit coat) not knowing I was holding the answer to my search and prayers in my hand.
We had a good laugh and all was well. I thought of all the time I wasted. What a silly situation! And no harm was done.
In serious situations, though, picturing things wrongly can have very negative results, possibly even fatal ones if the situation is serious enough.
Scripture tells us in James 1:5 that God will give wisdom to anyone who asks for it. Even when we think we totally understand a situation, even when we are sure we have a grasp on it as we seek answers, we ought to ask God for wisdom and clear vision to see it from His perspective. If we do this we may save us and others a load of hurt.