July 2018

CAN A SKEWED PERSPECTIVE
HARM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
BY CHARLAINE MARTIN
My husband and I
were on vacation
in North Carolina
recently. It seemed
that remnants of Hurricane Alberto
decided to rain on our fun.
Torrential downpours made visibility
difficult along the highway.
Debris and mud flew up on our
windshield to make our view of
others on the road more difficult.
Our van’s windshield wipers
could not keep up. The rearview
mirrors were also a mess. We
had to slow down while looking
around as best as we could,
hoping no one would rear end
us. We considered leaving this
tropical destination for a dryer,
sunnier location further north.
Our whole view of our vacation
looked murky.
Have you ever had mud spattered
on your windshield, but
your wipers could not clear the
mud away without smearing it
everywhere? How about such
a heavy downpour your wipers
could not keep your view
clear even after the mud was all
gone? It makes the drive difficult
because it distorts the view, so
you cannot see the road, signs,
or other vehicles very well. Living
with a distorted view of God
from bad life experiences or
poor discipleship is much like
that. It is difficult to see who God
really is, His nature, His character,
and His immense love for us.
That distorted view of God can
have devastating effects. When
we clear off our spiritual windshields,
we can see who God
really is, giving us a gratifying
love relationship with Him in all
circumstances.
Causes of a Distorted View of
God
Poor Authority Figures in
Childhood
I grew up in a dysfunctional
home with domestic violence,
alcohol, and abuse. If I made a
mistake or misbehaved, punishment
was quite severe. It was
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