Do We Have Spiritual Amnesia? Do We Think Facts Are The Truth?

Helen,

I write because I know you’re struggling with finances and raising a child with special needs. That in some ways you feel your life is bleak and will never get better. And on the surface, you’re right. You’re a single mom, you’re trapped in a low wage town and your son has lots of behavioral problems.

But there’s so much more to your circumstances than meets the eye. And believe it or not, the facts before you are not the truth. Truth is never just about facts. To get to the truth, you also need the proper perspective to filter the facts. When your perspective is a lie, you will always see life through brown colored glasses.

This is why two people can have the same things happen to them and one will be happy while the other is devastated. Why rock stars with wealth and fame still commit suicide. And poor people who are virtually unknown can still have a zest for life. The truth is not about your circumstances. Life is more than what happens to us.

Long Term Blessings Come Through Tough Circumstances
The Lord has blessed me these days financially. Previously he blessed me with lots of what seemed like horrific circumstances, (unemployment, 6 figure debt, illness to near death in 2008…).

I say “blessed” not because I thought these were fun times. They certainly weren’t. But like the Apostle Paul, I learned through these trials to praise Jesus in all circumstances. These hardships taught me that Jesus was my true provider. Jesus was my protector. I had to learn the hard way that it wasn’t my job, it wasn’t my friends and it wasn’t my boss. Only Jesus.

And when I got that message, it was then that He changed my circumstances. As a result, I have more gratitude, more peace and more love for others (though I always ask Him to keep helping me with the love part). He has given me more of His perspective. And it has changed how I see my circumstances.

What is Truth?
We recite a lot of details and think it’s the truth. But truth is never about a set of facts. Truth is beyond a set of circumstances. Truth is a PERSON. Jesus Says I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.

Every situation you have, every feeling you have, every thought you have, it all needs to be filtered through the TRUTH of who Jesus is. This means getting to know Him and His promises for you. It also means seeing who Jesus is from the Bible, and remembering all the times He’s come through in your life and the lives of others.

If you see facts without these surrounding circumstances, you’re taking things out of context. Pure facts are never the truth.

Facts Without True Perspective Are Lies
Imagine your son David explaining the truth about his life with “just the facts.” But instead of filtering events based on being cared for by a doting mother who protects him, David begins with a bunch of details.

TODAY I FELT VERY DEPRESSED. I HAD TO MAKE MY BED AND GO TO SCHOOL IN THE RAIN WHEN I WASN’T FEELING WELL. AT SCHOOL PEOPLE PICKED ON ME. MY TEACHERS WERE NASTY TO ME. I’LL NEVER BE GOOD AT MATH. AFTER SCHOOL I WENT HOME AND WAS SO HUNGRY. LIFE SUCKS AND I WANT TO DIE…

When David describes his life, it’s not the truth. Even if all the details were accurate. David is seeing life through brown colored glasses. It’s as if he had amnesia and was born yesterday. As if he couldn’t remember there were other good days to compare to.

Lie # 1: The Facts Say Things Will Never Change
In David’s mind he will always be depressed always have no hope and always have no adventure. Life is a deep dark tunnel with no light. No changes for the better. No future.

But how true is this? For example: What about all the times David did well in math? Or the times it was sunny and he had fun with his school friends? And if David thinks about it, he may even remember that rain doesn’t last forever. Soon it will be sunny again!

Facts that are strewn together in a lie are not the truth. And the lie he’s telling himself is that things will never change.

Lie #2: The Facts Say I Am Alone & Unprotected
But true perspective goes way beyond remembering that life can be good again. David also forgot who it is who loves him. Who it is that feeds him. Who it is that protects him. That you as his loving mother would never forsake him!

In his amnesia, David forgot that you zealously are there for him. You were there for him in the past, and you will be there for him in the future.

If need be, you’d get him tutors to pass math. You’d arrange play days where he can have fun with his friends. Or switch schools if necessary. And if he thought about it, while he’s been hungry often, it’s you, his mom, who always makes sure he’s never hungry for long.

So with the facts, David never got the truth. The truth is that when life hits him, he’s still protected. Even if his current circumstances never change, he has a loving mom who will keep him from harm.

Facts Must Be Grounded in Personal Relationships
Therefore “TRUE” FACTS WITHOUT BEING GROUNDED IN THE PERSON OF YOU AS HIS PROTECTOR, ARE SIMPLY A LIE.

And so it is when we filter the facts through a life where we don’t believe in Gods’ promises for us. Where we ignore God’s relationship with us. Or when we don’t see Him as the creative, loving protector who delights in changing our world!

 How We Can Avoid Spiritual Amnesia
Looking at facts without context is something we do all the time. We constantly accept the lie that things will never change. And most important, we accept the lie that we’re unprotected.  When we do this without remembering our God, we too have amnesia. We too lose sight of the truth.

Practical Steps To Remember The Truth
To do anything right requires practice. So cultivate the skill of gratitude. You taught David to say thank you for the good things in life. Now do likewise with our God! Actively remember the good things, so you have perspective when times get tough.

Use this time to give generously. And creatively. Giving helps you get out of your rut. Suddenly you’ll have a joy and perspective where your own problems become smaller. And your joy will get bigger!

Pray with others and even more important, praise Him with others. Give thanks to Him together and alone. Remember daily the things he’s done for you. Reflect these things back to Him in your daily quiet time.

And don’t forget to make this time with the Lord a habit. To prepare for the world, you bathe and brush your teeth daily. So spend time with the Lord daily. Just like you might with a trusted friend.

Jesus not only loves you. He likes you. Learn to like Him back. Read from your Bible what Jesus said and did. And how He loved His disciples and even His enemies. And don’t forget to marvel at His power, His goodness and His miracles. Then in your quiet time, talk to Him about what you’ve read! Ask Him for more love, more peace and more joy. He just loves to give to those who ask!