Things Unseen

I realized something about myself this past Christmas season.  As I was participating in one of those white elephant style gift exchanges I realized that I never take an unopened gift.  I always steal.  I'd rather choose something I already see than open something unknown.  For years I've picked out my own presents....I don't even pretend to be surprised when I open them.  I've told myself it's because I have very specific taste, but really I'd rather just look forward to the thing I know I will like than be surprised by something else.  I know....not very heart-warming, is it?  Now who wants to get me a present??  If I was a groundhog I'd most definitely be peaking out to find out about the weather....

(Don't drive angry.)

Scripture talks about the unseen a lot.  At Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

And at 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see only a reflection as we see in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
 
The future is the unopened gift in the white elephant gift exchange.  It is unseen, a calculated guess at best.  It is the spring or winter coming for us, and really has nothing to do with the groundhog!  But it has everything to do with the Father.

For as much as we are asked to trust and walk and obey, we are not abandoned.  The assurance that makes all of this faith in the unseen possible is that we have a Father who loves us, knows us and desires far better for us than we can possibly ever imagine for ourselves.

"And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow?  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30

We do our best to predict the future, lay plans that are good and smart and prosperous.  But the very best belongs to the Lord.  He who sees you sees the whole you, the whole picture of you, the world in which you live and the future on which you hope.  And His plan for your life has been rooted in His good and perfect will.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is eternal, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18), and embrace that sometimes the unexpected can be the biggest blessing of all.  

Except for those unopened white elephant presents.  Definitely leave those to the groundhogs....

XOXO....Kelly