From another room, I recently heard our oldest ask his dad, “why are you looking down?” As his dad responded that he was looking down at a sore thumb, I almost chuckled to myself. It always amazes me how God can use such a simple question from a child to speak to our hearts.
“Why are you looking down?”
Sometimes we have emotional or spiritual sore thumbs. As the saying acknowledges, sore thumbs stick out. Incidents that would otherwise occur without being given much thought tend to strike a nerve when a thumb is sore.
Is there any topic that, when someone even mentions, you immediately feel defensive? Maybe you’re exhausted and feel unappreciated. Do you feel defensive if anyone even seemingly implies you need to do more? Maybe you are doubting your abilities as a parent and feel defensive if someone comments on parenting styles or your child’s behavior. Or, do you have a sore thumb when it comes to feeling loved?
Is it hard to believe someone could love YOU? Maybe you have felt so very unloved by others here on earth that you have started to believe the lie that it is you who is simply unlovable. It is a lie. You are lovable. You ARE loved.
Why are you looking down?
It’s easy to get caught up in looking down at the problems and insecurities you may face. All it does, however, is keep us so focused on the negative that we begin to lose hope. By all means, be aware of your surroundings, but after surveying the scene, lift your eyes.
Whatever is your sore thumb, take it to Jesus.
Focus on what scripture says is true.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Psalm 121 (NIV)
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Why are you looking down?