I’m at the age where I’m part of a text thread that only shares dad jokes. Not sure what that says about me but recently one of the jokes sent out got me laughing and made me think:
“The older I get, the tighter companies are putting lids on jars.”
I felt that. I’ve wrestled a few stubborn jars lately, and I’ll admit, it’s humbling. But beyond the laugh, the joke had me thinking about something deeper—how quickly we form explanations for what’s going on around us. We connect dots and assign meaning in ways that feel true, but aren’t always accurate. Often, we have a twisted perspective on reality.
It’s human nature to do this.
“They must be doing this on purpose.”
“This always happens to me.”
“I know exactly what’s going on here.”
But sometimes... we don’t.
Sometimes we’re wrong about what we’re seeing. Sometimes what looks like resistance is actually mercy. Sometimes what feels like rejection is redirection. Sometimes we’re just tired, and the jar is just a jar.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Leaning on our own understanding can feel right in the moment, but it's rarely the full picture. That’s why Scripture constantly points us toward discernment, toward slowing down, toward inviting God to shape how we see. Because when we let Him lead our perspective, we trade knee-jerk reactions for steady wisdom.
This week, when you catch yourself jumping to conclusions or writing a quick story about someone’s actions, pause. Ask:
What might I be missing here?
What would it look like to view this through God’s eyes, not mine?
And if all else fails, grab one of those rubber grip things for the jar. Trust me—it’s not always a spiritual battle.
peace,
Nick
“The older I get, the tighter companies are putting lids on jars.”
I felt that. I’ve wrestled a few stubborn jars lately, and I’ll admit, it’s humbling. But beyond the laugh, the joke had me thinking about something deeper—how quickly we form explanations for what’s going on around us. We connect dots and assign meaning in ways that feel true, but aren’t always accurate. Often, we have a twisted perspective on reality.
It’s human nature to do this.
“They must be doing this on purpose.”
“This always happens to me.”
“I know exactly what’s going on here.”
But sometimes... we don’t.
Sometimes we’re wrong about what we’re seeing. Sometimes what looks like resistance is actually mercy. Sometimes what feels like rejection is redirection. Sometimes we’re just tired, and the jar is just a jar.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Leaning on our own understanding can feel right in the moment, but it's rarely the full picture. That’s why Scripture constantly points us toward discernment, toward slowing down, toward inviting God to shape how we see. Because when we let Him lead our perspective, we trade knee-jerk reactions for steady wisdom.
This week, when you catch yourself jumping to conclusions or writing a quick story about someone’s actions, pause. Ask:
What might I be missing here?
What would it look like to view this through God’s eyes, not mine?
And if all else fails, grab one of those rubber grip things for the jar. Trust me—it’s not always a spiritual battle.
peace,
Nick