This past week has been pretty stressful for me. I’ve tried to not let it be, but still–it was. In addition to starting a new job (which is exciting and daunting at the same time) We’ve all been watching the Middle East go up in flames. I have a daughter who lives in New York City which is now under increased terror threat again. I have another child who lives out of state who totaled his car this week resulting in significant financial consequences and complications.
I blurted out to a friend this week that this cloud has no silver linings. But that is simply wrong.
What the Lord wants me to remember throughout all of this is to maintain proper perspective. This week may be hard, but it’s not catastrophic. The things that have happened recently in Israel, that’s catastrophic. My son’s car may be a financial loss, but we can help him. And thank God no one was hurt. My daughter may live in a dangerous place but she is still just as watched over by the Lord Our God as ever.
I could go on. There’s so many silver linings I can’t even count them all.
What about you? What are the hard things in your life right now? I don’t want to diminish them but is it possible that we could all rise up to about 30,000 feet and look down with a better perspective? Is there a way to view our current circumstances that feels a little less like fear and a little more like faith? Is it possible that trusting God is in control can literally settle our hearts and our minds in the moment? If we know His eye Is on the sparrow can we also rest in the fact that we know he watches over you and me and our kids too?
There’s so much in scripture about perspective. We are told to look not on things that are temporary but on things that are eternal. We are told to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The way we think and the way we look at things matters to God for eternity but it also matters to us for right now.
I am praying for you that whatever tough circumstance you’re facing today, you will find the eternal truths in scripture that bring relief, hope, endurance, or courage.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
God bless,
