Perspective Is Everything

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But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.
2 Corinthians 12:9‭-‬10 TPT

There are times I have wondered where God is, though I hear his words reassuring,..." I am here with you", "I will never leave you nor forsake you...", but I still think, how can you say you are here yet the storm is so fierce? You made the seas and the oceans, they run to obey your commands, yet the same is raging fiercely against yours, against the world you created. We believe storms shouldnt dare to rage where the Lord is.  But sometimes God allows the storm, Peter knows, he probably felt and thought like I did - how is it possible you're here and the storm still rages?, but after a while he came to understand that God commands and uses storms. Paul understood also that God uses thorns, God wastes nothing!

This brings me to the issue of Perspective, it is everything, it changes circumstances and outcomes, first in our hearts, in our state of mind, before we finally see it in the outcomes we experience physically. For the apostles Paul and Peter, a change in perspective enabled them to let go of themselves, their fears and cares, to submit to the will and working of God in their lives. The process of prunning, though painful became bearable because of a change in perspective.

I have cried out to God a lot about issues I want him to change urgently, but God in his infinite goodness has chosen to answer me with a shift in perspective, leading to a change of strategy and focus.

Once He said to me '"come up higher", I immediately thought,  'oh yes lord I am coming', but with God, the way up is south. Totally baffled, I cry out and run to him hoping to be lifted up and away from the topple to the bottom, but He says to let go, "I will pick you up, that is my way".

If you're wondering, be willing to run to him with open heart and mind, to gain perspective, in the midst of the pain. If you're willing to allow yourself be slapped and spat upon, ignore your sensuality and need to fix things, fight back and speak up for yourself, then youre on the upward path, for there His grace will find us.

It begins with a change in perspectives, this season seems tough going, but run to God, get his perspective and lean on his grace to help us grow through.

Growing through - Rita Oladiran.

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