How to build the right perspective

“No situation is untenable for the one who sees possibility first.”

Have you ever heard the saying that ‘your perspective determines the trajectory of your life?’ Maybe not in those words, but you have probably heard something similar.

Perspective is defined as the “capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.” Merriam Webster Dictionary

There are many pastors and motivational speakers who remind us that:

How we view our situation is often more important than the actual situation.

And this is without exception.

This may make sense at the cerebral level, but since we are also emotional beings and learn through stories, here are three memorable Bible stories about the power of having the right perspective

The Joseph Perspective

When we read Joseph’s story, it’s easy to gloss over what he experienced.

If you’re anything like me, you may have romanticized this by focusing on his meteoritic rise from the prisons to the palace. But here’s the thing; being a slave has never been cool.

Not then and certainly not now.

Yet, we know that Joseph did not use his situation or reality as an excuse to sin, and neither did he seek his own glory when he had the chance at elevation. When Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret his dream, Joseph responds

It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”  

Genesis 41:16

Throughout Joseph’s story, we see that he remained centered. This is the perspective we need.

One where we are focused on God and not our situation.

So, can we claim to focus on the one who matters despite our circumstances?

Well, let’s examine the other stories.

 

 

The Shunamite Woman

How would you react to death, especially the death of a beloved child? Would you give up or would you believe?

And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, “My head, my head. So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God…then she called to her husband…so he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the new moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “it is well.”

2 Kings 4: 18-23

In the midst of her pain, the woman had answered not once but on two separate occasions that ‘it is well.’

What incredible faith. She also did something interesting, she laid the child on the bed of the prophet, while she went to get the prophet. (see 2 Kings 4 – this story was also the first recording of the famous phrase – ‘it is well’).

In the face of devastation, this woman chose to hold on to her faith in God, no matter how shaken she may have been.

What about you?

 

Kind David: the man after God’s heart

There are many incredible moments in King David’s life, but I will focus on how David responded after the Ziklag raid.

So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep…Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his son and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:3-6

Do you know what it means to cry so hard that you can’t even cry anymore?

At this point, you are emotionally wrung out, which can be a critical phase – in that heightened state it may be easier to ‘curse God and die’ rather than to believe his word and ask for his strength. Especially when your life is already on the line, but David encouraged himself in the Lord.

Halleluyah!

So, what perspective do you take in life’s moments?

How do you handle situations that are unexpected and when things don’t go according to plan? You will notice that each person in the stories above looked to God for strength and deliverance.

Today, and for the rest of this year, I want to encourage you to:

1. Set your eyes on God and not on your situation.

Like Peter, look at Jesus as you are walking on water. If you look away, you will sink into the tides of life. The Psalmist says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help…” Psalm 121:1

 

2. Continually soak your life with God’s word and truth.

This will make it easier to take on heaven’s perspective in earthly matters.

‘Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you may be able to know God’s good and perfect will.’ Romans 12:2

 

3. Remember that things are often not as bad as they seem.

I once slept at the airport – not some fancy airport but a local, Nigerian airport. In fact, at some point, they sent us out because they had to fumigate, so I spent the rest of the night outside with mosquitoes and other insects. It sounds horrible but it was anything but.

What could have been a demoralizing experience turned into one of my most memorable. It taught me that we get to choose how we view life’s curve balls.

When I think back to that experience, I remember the kindnesses of those who worked there, and I also learned to empathize with those whose everyday reality may seem untenable.

 

4. Practice a positive and healthy perspective

Gaining a healthy perspective takes practice, and as we do so, we make room for growth and creativity. Fear stalls our ability to think up solutions while faith builds our capacity to not only think up ideas but to execute them.