Seeking Perspective

It takes prayer, and a conscious decision to stop asking God for answers and start asking Him for perspective.

I wasted much of my time questioning God, as if I have that right. Why did ______ happen? Why didn’t ______ happen? Why did things fall apart? Why am I in this? Why am I going through this? What am I supposed to do?

There is always a lesson to learn.

Rather than questioning, I started to seek God’s wisdom and give Him thanks and praise in the midst of uncertain times. I have learned instead to shift my perspective and pray, What lesson is there to learn in this?

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV

I will be the first to admit, it can be so challenging to look at the things which are not seen when the things which are seen can so abrasively cloud our vision. It takes effort to lift up our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help. Our help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1,2 KJV (revised a bit). And, I know this, because I’m speaking from personal experience. But, isn’t this where our faith muscles are built? Is this not where we learn to trust in the mighty hands of God? To trust Him, though we cannot see Him. To trust that His hands are at work, though our eyes cannot see…

We live in this, “gotta see it to believe it” age. God doesn’t work like that. I’m glad. I remember when I was in the Army we all these tall tales of our extravagant weekend and/or deployment adventures. Thing was, pictures or it didn’t happen. I lived my life this way. Cataloguing the big and small events with pictures, to remind even myself that yes, that really happened.

Thomas, Jesus’ very own disciple was like this. Although Jesus had told his disciples that He would die and rise again in three days. I mean, the others had seen Him! He didn’t believe. He needed to see Jesus for himself. No, Thomas wanted to go a few steps further. He wanted to put his finger into the print of the nails, and thrust his hand into Jesus’ side… John 20:25 KJV in order to believe. It took seeing Jesus to believe.

I have not encountered one person in my life who has not been through something awful. I do not know one person who, at one time or another, has not wondered about the reason/purpose for the horrendous situation they endured. I do know some people, however, that have moved beyond the wonder and been able to see the unseen. I know some people who have been able to accept and acknowledge the hand of God in their circumstances; who have been able to say, even though I don’t understand this, even though my eyes cannot see, I know that God is faithful. I know that He has a purpose and a plan. I know that I can trust Jesus, even when I cannot see His hand and I don’t know the what, how, or why of this circumstance, or how this will turn out.

As Jesus said: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:29b KJV

*Original Image by Yours Truly