Do you want to heal or hurt your spiritual eyes? Find answers from this experienced source.
She glued her eye shut!
Yes–you read right! A woman living in Florida got a piece of debris in her eye while blowing leaves. She called to a friend for help, but instead of coming back with eye drops, the friend returned with a small bottle of fingernail glue–a product that can be used to apply artificial nails or tips.
She told a local TV station, “As soon as I felt it in my eye, I felt it burn, and I closed my eye and screamed “Call 911,’ ”*
Ultimately she ended up being OK, but wow!
How could her friend have mistakenly (we hope) given her glue when she meant to give her eye drops?
How could someone be so focused on getting stuff that hurts them in their search for stuff that’s supposed to help—even, heal them?
As I read this story, my thoughts naturally turned to the many stories of people—including me–I’ve known who have searched and searched and searched for what they thought would help and heal their spiritual “eyes;” only to find out that those things only hurt them.
There are many in our world that live their lives focused solely on their feelings. They let their emotional hearts dictate to them what thing, person, or experience will provide them contentment.
But the Bible wisely warns us: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17: 9, NLT) Additionally, it gives us this instruction: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).
(Don’t) Follow Your Heart
So how do you do it? How do you not listen to your heart, but instead guard it? The answer is simple really…well, it’s simple, but it’s not easy. Our answer comes from the most unlikely but–unfortunately–experienced source: King Solomon. He wrote (after a lifetime of listening to his heart, with abysmal results) in his journal of sorts, what he learned from a life of reckless, Godless living, the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes: “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about” (12:13b, CEV).
Straightening the Crooked…
King Solomon, in his journal of sorts, Ecclesiastes, going off about the futility and foolishness of life, made this insightful observation: “What is crooked cannot be straightened . . .” (1:15, NLT). No doubt that you’ve also felt this way in your life already. I know that I have. As a recovering addict I learned that all the I was searching for in my addictions, I could find only in God. Solomon came to the same conclusions as well.
In fact, I would dare say that in my 30 years of mental health work I’ve noticed a similar pattern: that human beings are just wanting to not feel any pain; we only want to feel good—honestly, our hearts are really only searching for someone who we can be intimate with. What I mean is that we are all searching for someone who will love and accept us unconditionally—warts and all. God is that someone, but Solomon, like many of us, only found that out after he got himself involved in all sorts of unsavory relationships and unwise life situations.
It’s likely that you’ve also got yourself involved in some similar situations—or know someone who has. To help you deal with these complicated situations, I’ve included a link in the “Additional Resources” section below to help you address any and all addictions that you or anyone you know may have. Don’t be ashamed; like I said before: I’m a recovering addict.
Who To Listen To?
So there you have it. Do you want to live a life of purpose, peace, power, fulfillment and joy? Do you want to heal—not hurt–your spiritual eyes? Don’t listen to your heart but instead, do listen to God! Listening to God looks like acknowledging, aka “respecting” God and obeying Him in everything you do in your life. That’s the only recipe for a life worth living.
And…also, don’t keep the Gorilla Glue near your eye drops.
*Accessed on September 08, 2025 from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/katherine-gaydos-eye-glued-shut_n_5617ef98e4b0082030a24917
Additional Resources
“You’re Not the Boss of Me” by Andy Stanley
Book: Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions that Control You by Andy Stanley
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The post highlights the importance of guarding one’s heart and seeking guidance from God rather than relying solely on emotions. As Jeremiah 17:9 warns, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.” In contrast, Proverbs 4:23 advises us to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” By prioritizing obedience to God, as King Solomon ultimately learned, we can find true fulfillment and purpose in life (Ecclesiastes 12:13b).
The story of the woman who glued her eye shut serves as a powerful metaphor for the ways in which we can harm ourselves in our search for healing and help. Just as she mistakenly used glue instead of eye drops, we can mistakenly pursue things that hurt us instead of healing us. The Bible warns us about the dangers of following our own desires and instead encourages us to seek God’s guidance and wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Ultimately, the text suggests that true healing and fulfillment can only be found by listening to God and obeying His word. As King Solomon learned, “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about” (Ecclesiastes 12:13b). By prioritizing our relationship with God and seeking His guidance, we can avoid the pitfalls of following our own desires and instead find a life of purpose, peace, and joy. (Great Post)! Emmanuel.