Spiritual Tunnel Vision
By Ginny Chambers
Have you ever had tunnel vision? According to Merriam-Webster, tunnel vision is an extreme viewpoint or a single-minded concentration on one objective. Recently, I experienced tunnel vision for the first time. It happened towards the end of a long drive to Pennsylvania.
I had been looking forward to visiting my daughter and granddaughters for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was nervous about the long drive. Many of my friends had prayed for safety on my journey, and knowing that calmed my fears. In His faithfulness, God helped me look at things a little closer—not looking at what was ahead but living in the present. For the present, I needed to stay focused on my driving—things like the speedometer, the lines in the highway, knowing the road ahead, but not too far ahead. By doing all of that, I was able to maneuver my driving with safety. I arrived at my destination, tired but thankful.
In our spiritual life, it’s easy to get tunnel vision. We fall into it not only by living in the future, but also by having strict rules about the present. Christ says to look away at those things that beset us and fix our eyes on Him. Take a look at what is grabbing your attention so much that it troubles you, and remember that whenever anything is magnified, it looks larger.
The answer for spiritual tunnel vision is turning our eyes to the Lord and magnifying Him. Hebrews 12:2 says, to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus lived in the present knowing what His future was, endured the shame and died for us. Our current circumstances do not limit God. So have faith in your future but live in the present. May the Spirit of the Living God show you areas where you might have tunnel vision and teach you that His ways are so much better.
Ginny Chambers is an avid writer and a cancer survivor, living in the freedom of Christ. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at LowCountry Community Church, gardening, and spending time with friends.