CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

While trying to help a group of patients deal with their grief, a young phycologist took them out into the middle of a busy city street and had them observe their surroundings. He then, took them up to the roof of a tall building on that same street and told them to look around again and tell him what they saw. Their responses were completely different. Instead of flashing lights, noisy traffic, and people rushing around, some noticed the blue sky, some noticed sunshine, while others noticed the rooftops decorated with small gardens all around them. The doctor reminded them that they were on the same street as before, only their perspective had changed. I love that analogy.

There are times that we can become overwhelmed by entrapped feelings of not having answers, not understanding the motives and actions of others and discouragement which can keep us from not seeing past our current situations. However, it is in those moments that God can lift us up to a higher place, a place where if we will go, we can see things differently, possibly from God's standpoint.

I always find it helpful to remind myself by asking this question, "not only what does this time of struggle mean to me, but what does it mean to God?" In our most desperate moments, if we can mentally drag ourselves upwards to that higher place of spiritual footing or ground, God may very well give us a glimpse however brief, of His divine love, insight and perspective. And that different perspective may be just what we need to keep hanging on and enduring.

In most cases it is always simply, "another perspective". Seeing every situation from God's standpoint. A farmer may look at cow manure as something which he must endlessly shovel out of the barn and probably the least likely job to perform on the farm. The gardener, on the other hand, looks at manure as free fertilizer. He can see the potential when others may see only waste. The gardener delights in getting manure. They shovel it around in their gardens and flower beds with delight. A mere matter of perspective.

Our perspective is very much a reflection of who we are. A Christian’s perspective is very much determined by his or her spiritual gifts. To the apostle Paul, John Mark was a liability, a man who could not be counted on, and thus a man who should not be taken along on his missionary journeys. To Barnabas, whose gift was encouragement, Mark was an opportunity and a challenge to disciple. Mark was a man who needed encouragement, and Barnabas was the man to give it, just as he had ministered to Paul in the early days of his Christian walk.

Both men impacted the world with the gospel. Both, loved the Lord Jesus and loved each other. But they saw things from their own perspective and did ministry within their own spiritual gifts and personalities. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…" Eph. 1:18. May God grant us all the perspective to see life through His eyes and for His good purpose and may we never, ever forget to walk in love!

Hold Fast,
-Bren