Inside Looking Out?

Things are not always as they appear. This photo posed an unsettling question. Was I standing outside the house looking in, or inside looking out? At first, it seemed obvious, but the longer I studied it, the less certain I became. I was standing outside the house, photographing a glass door that reflected the world behind me. What looked like a view from within was only a reflection.

Life can be much the same. Things are not always as they appear, and our first impressions are not always the truth. We are often confident in our conclusions, yet sometimes completely wrong. We trust our instincts, assumptions, and first impressions without knowing all the facts.

A story is told about Charles Spurgeon, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, and his wife. They raised chickens but never gave eggs away to their congregation; instead, they sold them. Some quietly criticized them, labeling them stingy and unkind. The Spurgeons never explained themselves or defended their actions. They simply allowed people to believe what they wished. Only after Mrs. Spurgeon passed away did the truth become known: the money from those eggs had been faithfully used to support two elderly widows in need. What appeared selfish was, in reality, deeply sacrificial.

This is not merely their story; it exposes how quickly we form judgments and how easily we settle into what “seems right” without carefully seeking truth. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” This proverb is more than gentle advice; it is a warning. It reminds us that sincerity is not the same as truth, and appearances can mislead us.

How often do we judge motives, misunderstand circumstances, or assume we see clearly when we are only looking at reflections? Ask the Lord for grace in how you see others, situations, and even yourself. When He reshapes our vision, we begin to see with humility, wisdom, and compassion. Invite Him to expose assumptions that have quietly taken root, so you may see more clearly. What once felt certain may be gently corrected by His truth, transformed by His love, and redirected by His gracious purpose.

–G. Yarian