There is something interesting about the filters we use on our photos. I have to admit, I was a little late to the filter party! I first learned about picture filters from some of my younger friends. I would look at their pictures and wonder, “How in the world are their pictures so crisp, so clear, and their skin so smooth?” What was I missing?
Eventually, I discovered there was a little more going on than a good camera and great lighting. There were filters!
Now, I occasionally use one myself. Nothing too dramatic, just a little smoothing here and there to help even out my skin. No shame in my game! Sometimes a little enhancement is nice.
But it got me thinking. What are people’s thoughts about filters? Are they simply a fun way to enhance a photograph, or have we gotten to a place where we don’t feel quite as comfortable showing up without one?
I don’t have an issue with filters. I think there’s room to enjoy them without making them a big deal. However, I do think it’s worth asking ourselves whether we are becoming so accustomed to seeing the enhanced version of ourselves that we struggle to appreciate the original. #selah
And that thought took me somewhere else.
What about the filters we use in everyday life?
Sometimes we filter our words because we’re afraid of hurting someones feelings. We filter our experiences because we want others to believe everything is going well. We share the highlights but leave out the struggles (which I think there is a time and place for that), the waiting, the disappointments, and the lessons along the way.
We can become so focused on presenting a particular image that we forget the beauty of simply being ourselves.
The truth is, we don’t have to look perfect, have everything together, or live a picture-perfect life to be valuable. God isn’t looking for a filtered version of us. He desires our hearts!
First Samuel 16:7 reminds us that people look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.
And perhaps that’s a good reminder for all of us. Let’s spend as much time tending to what’s happening within us as we do perfecting what people see on the outside.
Being in the Right Place at the Right Time
Speaking of appearances, there is another area where I believe we sometimes need to take the filter off: our expectations about timing.
We live in a world that is constantly telling us to hurry. Hurry up and accomplish the next goal. Hurry up and launch the business. Hurry up and publish the book. Hurry up and get to the next level.
Everything seems to have a sense of urgency attached to it.
And while there is certainly a place for being intentional, disciplined, and taking action, I’ve learned that not everything that can be done right now should be done right now.
Sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is wait.
I’ve been experiencing this in my own journey with my second book. There have been delays, moments when I thought I would be further along, and times when I wondered why things weren’t coming together as quickly as I had anticipated.
I have the desire. I have the vision. I have things I want to accomplish. And believe me, there are moments when I want to just get it done!
But I’ve had to remind myself that I don’t want to rush something simply because I am anxious to see it completed.
I want to be sensitive to God’s leading. I want to make sure I’m not moving simply because I feel pressured by a timeline, an expectation, or even my own desire to see something come to fruition.
There is a difference between being delayed and being out of position. There is also a difference between moving with purpose and moving ahead of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is a season for everything and a time for every matter under heaven.
That means there is a time to plant, a time to nurture, a time to prepare, and a time to harvest. We don’t get to rush every season simply because we’re ready for the next one.
And sometimes, the waiting is doing something in us that we cannot yet see.
Me, I am; Staying Humble, Surrendered, and Consecrated
But surrender isn’t just something we do when we have no other options. It is a daily decision to place our desires, plans, ambitions, and expectations before God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not lean on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways.
That’s the posture I want to maintain.
I want to remain consecrated unto the Lord, set apart for His purposes, and sensitive to His voice. I don’t want the noise of the world, the pressure of comparison, or the urgency of my own expectations to drown out His direction.
Sometimes we have to quiet the outside noise long enough to hear what God is saying on the inside.
And sometimes that means having the courage to say no to rushing, even when everything around us seems to be saying, “Go! Go! Go!”
Be intentional. Be prepared. Be obedient. Stay humble. Stay surrendered. And have the courage to wait for God’s appointed time.
Because the goal isn’t simply to get there. It’s to arrive in the right place, at the right time, with the right heart.
Until next time, let’s continue to live, love, grow, and follow His lead.
With Love,
Marvlun
