A New View

Have you ever discovered a new way to accomplish a task and wonder why it didn't occur to you sooner? Sometimes our current situations can seem the same way.

A few weeks ago, I had my annual exam at the eye doctor. I didn't think I was going to have any big changes with my vision as I could see just fine out of my glasses I've had for two and a half years. It wasn't until the weekend before my appointment that I realized I might actually have had a change in my vision. I had closed my right eye for a split second and realized that everything seemed a little blurry looking through just my left eye. The day for my appointment came and when I got home, I went online to order some new glasses. They were delivered to me about the middle of last week. I didn't realize that much of a difference in my vision until Sunday at church, though. As I was looking around the sanctuary during the announcements, I realized that the other side of my church looked much more clear than it did the week before. That's what got me thinking...

I started to wonder how many times something like that has happened to us throughout this life. I'm not specifically talking about glasses anymore. Has there ever been a time you were doing something a certain way and didn't even stop to think there was a more efficient way to accomplish the same task? Sometimes, we get so stuck in our own ways that we don't even realize there's a better way to accomplish what we're trying to do. Once we finally figure it out, maybe by watching someone else do it their way, we start to wonder why we didn't think of that solution ourselves. It can get the same way with our faith. Maybe you tried to find your own solution to a problem rather than following God's guidance. Once you finally stopped and asked Him for help, I bet everything seemed much better than it had before.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Without realizing it, we keep our eyes fixed on what's going on in our lives. That's not a bad thing, considering that things happen in our everyday life, but we need to remember who's in control. Sometimes, we get so caught up with what's going wrong in our lives that we completely forget where we can go for help. If I'm being honest with you guys, this happens to me more than I'd like to admit. I try to fix my problems on my own sometimes and completely forget that I have friends, family, and God that can help me through whatever season I'm going through. If you're going through a challenging season in your life, I'd like to remind you that you have those people rallying around you, too. We all have a team of people that will always be there for us. I won't have the same team as you, but trust me when I say they're out there. Maybe you haven't found them yet. Maybe you just haven't realized that there are a few people who do care about you. If you haven't found your team yet, I encourage you to take a step back and think about your relationships. Think about your friends and family who are always asking about how you're doing and show a genuine interest in your life. Those people are your team. And God is always going to be the captain of that team.

As Christians, we know that eventually we will leave this earth and continue our eternity in heaven. It's an event that many are looking forward to. I have to admit it sounds pretty amazing! The verse I featured above is usually used in the context of that idea - it's pretty straightforward by saying, "What's seen in temporary but what's unseen is eternal," right? I think it's also a good reminder of where we can look to for help. What we're going through right now (what's seen) is only temporary, but the One who can help us through this time (what's unseen) is eternal. This verse can help us change our perspective on things. If I was going through a rough time without reading this Bible verse, I wouldn't see much hope in the end of my struggles - but if I read this verse amidst the struggle, I would find hope in knowing that God will help me through and that better times are up ahead.

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan." Romans 8:28

To me, this Bible verse is a breath of hope. All things will work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His plan. I love God and I know that I am called according to His plan. Whatever is going on in my life will eventually work out for the good. I pray that you can find the same hope in this verse as I have. There are so many people in the Bible where things went so wrong so fast - like Job or Paul. When everything was going wrong, did they have a negative perspective on things? No, they chose to have a different perspective and trust that God would work everything out for them. In the end, God did help them a lot. Job was blessed with seven-fold of what he had lost before. Paul was bit by a poisonous snake, but didn't die. He was locked up in prison, but God made a way out for him when he and Silas didn't escape during the earthquake like everyone else had. It might be hard to keep a positive perspective on your situation, but just remember that God will always make a way for you.

I may not know exactly what's going on in your life, but I do know that God will always be there to help you in your times of trouble. He will work everything together for the good, even if it doesn't seem like there's a way. Remember that our God is able to do the impossible. Try to surround yourself with people who love you and want the best for you. Read the Bible to get a fresh perspective on your situation. As I've mentioned in previous posts, create a playlist of songs that will uplift you in times of trouble. One of my most effective tools is to listen to music relating to my situation. It's what helps give me a new perspective. I encourage you to find what will help you find a new perspective on your situation - after all, everyone is different. If everything seems to be going wrong in your life right now, I pray that you will look to God for help and that He will make a way for you. I pray that you will find a new perspective on your situation.