A God’s Eye View

There was a day, some years ago, when my husband was particularly frustrated with the ups and downs of his recovery. He had been working very hard and, although, there were many days he would feel strong and hopeful, he would still find himself slipping back into sexual sin from time to time.

Bruce was incredibly disgusted with his failings and wondered how many more of them God would tolerate before he got sick of it all and spewed him out of his kingdom. The question tormented him. So, as much as a part of him was afraid to hear the answer, he brought it to God in prayer.

He was surprised when he very clearly felt God telling him, “Bruce, I see it differently than you do. You see yourself on a graph with high points and low points; positives and negatives. But when you are turned toward me, all I can see is your face coming toward me in a straight line. There are no ups and downs from my vantage point.”

God’s answer brought new hope to Bruce in his recovery. He began to focus on getting up, brushing himself off, and turning ever-more-quickly back toward God when he encountered a struggle or slip, instead of allowing himself to sink into a place of self-loathing and shame for days or even weeks.

Many months later, we were at a training put on by Michael Dye who developed the Genesis Process Relapse Prevention Program that has become a core component of our sexual addiction recovery groups. During one of his talks he began telling us of being frustrated with the ups and downs of his own Christian walk.

We sat in amazement as he continued on with his story. Using EXACTLY the same words that Bruce had heard months before, Michael said, “God told me, ‘I see it differently than you do. You see yourself on a graph with high points and low points; positives and negatives. But when you are turned toward me, all I can see is your face coming toward me in a straight line. There are no ups and downs from my vantage point.”

What a wonderful confirmation that Bruce had indeed heard truth straight from the heart of God. And a wonderful assurance that God still accepted him—and you— in spite of any ongoing struggles.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” — Proverbs 4:25-28 (NIV)