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The Power of Perspective

perspective

Having the right perspective is essential to enduring through any difficulty in life. One of the encouragements that someone told me a long time ago was: "If you could look back five years from now, how much will this really matter?" Over the years of my life, I have been through what we might call different crises. Looking back with perspective of time, every time I have basically forgotten about the crisis that seemed so important in the moment. What this has done in my life is to allow me to have more faith in the Lord. Over the years, I have learned to have more perspective.

Having the right perspective is key to understanding the physical shortages our nation is facing today. The other day I went to Costco and I wanted to see what it was like.  The shelves and the entire freezer section were empty. Then it struck me: “This is what most of the world is experiencing every day of the week.” We can get too worried in this country. We buy in bulk and we try to live in bulk. While we are thankful for God’s physical blessings on our nation, perhaps we have forgotten how to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

Facing difficult times and trying seasons is essential to growing in godly wisdom. When I was in my late twenties and early thirties, I had the desire to be very successful. I had a construction business and it was going like gangbusters. I really thought that I was so smart and could do nothing wrong. And then in the early 1980s, the crash hit and I lost it all. I realized that I wasn't so smart -- I had just done business at the right time. I took a valuable lesson away from that. Facing difficult seasons eliminates a lot of youthful pride. Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is that you go through a severe trial in your early years. Once you’ve gone through that you gain perspective. This is a practical encouragement to the younger generation: don’t underestimate what the Lord can do your life through difficult times.

Wisdom comes through experience -- tough experience.  Keeping the long view of everything is key to handling the troubles of the moment. We can be so focused on the here and now that we lose the eternal perspective on our trials. As Christians, we know that the best is yet to come. Don't miss the lessons the Lord has for you in this time. Don’t lose perspective on how the Lord is working in your life.