What's Your Perspective?

Perspective. I am learning how important this word is. How much perspective changes everything, how much it adds, how powerful of an effect it has on…well pretty much everything!

But let’s back up…the other day I was at church and we were in a very sweet time of worship. God’s presence was so strong. I wanted to focus on God and His goodness and love but all I could do was think about EVERYTHING else!!! Work was getting stressful that week, I had some stuff going on with my family, I was trying to mentally work out all of my bills for the month, etc. etc.  Ever had a time like that? Where all you can think about is your circumstances?? Your overwhelming lists of “to-do’s”?? I’m sure you have, we all have. It’s normal to be overcome with how busy life can be, especially in these days. Things are moving pretty fast and if you want to keep up, you have to move fast too. And isn’t it funny how these things seem to pile up on your brain in just the worst time? So there I was feeling totally and utterly swamped, feeling absolutely sorry for myself, definitely not feeling thankful. Everyone around me seemed to be having an amazing time with God. Eyes closed, hands raised, singing out. What was wrong with me!? As I looked around, it felt as if everything else was muted. I couldn’t quite hear the music above my own thoughts. It was so frustrating that finally I sat down in my chair and said, “God, why can’t I just forget about all of this for one moment?” I don’t know if I was really wanting or expecting an answer but either way, it came. Instantly, I felt Him speak and the dialogue went something like this:

God: “That’s easy, you don’t know where you are seated”
Me: “What do you mean? I’m in the fifth row at church”
God: “But you don’t know where you are seated”
Me: “Yeah, I do. I’m in the fifth row, third seat from the aisle”
God: “Ok. How about Ephesians 2:6?”

(I don’t know when we’ll learn to stop arguing with God, He really is always right). I couldn’t remember the verse off-hand so I had to look it up. As soon as I read it, it clicked.

 

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus - (Ephesians 2:4-6)

I am seated with Christ, in heavenly places. What happens when we realize this truth? Well it’s a lot like what happens when you look out the window of a plane; things seem smaller, a little more…manageable. We feel bigger than what we are looking at when we just get a different perspective! The moment I was reminded that God has seated us with Christ I began to get a different perspective on my situation. Life just kind of shrunk down to something that I could handle. It wasn’t so looming anymore. I was looking at things with a different lens, a lens that saw Jesus right there with me and I am able to conquer much more with Him by my side than I could ever conquer on my own. Trying to wrap my mind around everything with the perspective that it’s just me and my own strength was too overwhelming and as a matter of fact, unnecessary. God tells us that we are seated with Christ so that we know it’s not just us on our own. It can be hard to remember that when you’re in the midst of your reality, your life, and your problems but nonetheless it is God’s word and so it is always true, no matter the situation. It’s just a matter of stepping into it with confidence and trust, knowing that our place is with Jesus and He is a co-laborer with us. He provides strength and an outlook that we have access to. With that perspective in place, life is a lot less stressful. So I challenge you to ask yourself today, what’s my perspective?