It was a beautiful spring afternoon, and I decided to take my dog, Max, for a walk. Our winters in North Carolina are not so bad, but I was still glad to get out as spring was making an appearance. I was enjoying the clean, crisp spring air. And for once, Max was behaving himself as we walked around the neighborhood. As I was walking, the word “perspective” came to mind. I thought of a picture I saw of a small boy lying on the ground with a boot on his head. It looked like someone was stepping on his head. When enlarging the screen, you see the boy with the boot on his arm; he is placing the boot on his head. It shows how you can manipulate images to make people think something is happening, but the reality is very different.
This thinking led me down the path of self-reflection. What is my perception of myself? Sometimes I am too close to myself to see the reality. I need to pull back and look at the bigger picture – not the small up close distorted view. I have no idea how God can use me or what or when this storm will pass. But to have a narrow view, distorted, means I am limiting God in his big picture plan. I need to change my perspective and not let feelings, emotions, circumstances, doubt, and fear manipulate me.
It is easy to embark on changing your perspective on a subject. You could read books or articles on a topic. You could talk to people and get their input and perspective; basically, you need to educate yourself. Through this process, you may find that you were right; or you will have to change your perspective. But how does one change their perspective about themselves? I suppose you could ask close friends or family members how they see you. However, this interaction might be a good thing and a bad thing. I struggle with how do you bring that up in a conversation without sounding prideful?
I thought about funhouse mirrors. As a child, these were always fun to see how different mirrors made you look either short and fat, tall and skinny, or any other variation. These mirrors create a distorted view of your image. I find myself here sometimes—walking around with a distorted picture of myself created by my main enemy, Satan. He loves nothing more than to play with my mind and get me to think one way when the reality is very different.
It is easy for me to give in to Satan’s lies designed to keep me distracted when I feel this way. He may tell me that I am not important enough for God to care, or God does not love me in my current state. I know these to be false statements because David said of God, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, Psalm 139:13. Not only did he create me, but I am created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). I started to research “How does God see me”? I found several blogs that answer this, but the best resource is The Bible. Most comforting to me is Psalm 139. This Psalm is rich in comfort and truth about how God not only sees us but is always present with us. God gives us many scriptures to go to in these questioning times. His Word is part of our armor. We can use it to defend ourselves and attack the lies the enemy hurls at us. The most important thing to remember is that God loves me enough to send His only Son to die for me (John 3:16). What else do I need? God loves me! I am not the first person, nor will I be the last person that struggles with how God sees me. When I get this straightened out in my mind and heart, I will overcome the times my perspective gets turned around and leads me down a distorted path.
God creates us and desires to have a personal relationship with us. God calls us His children (1 John 3:1). I wonder if He ever thinks as I do about my children? I have said at different times to them, “I wish you could see yourself as I see you.” He sees how I suffer from my perspective, and maybe He is saying to me, pull back and look at your situation from my perspective. A child lovingly created for a purpose loved beyond comprehension and a life with meaning that he is faithfully working on completing (Philippians 1:6).
Changing my perspective can give me a different point of view. Sometimes, I get bogged down in the twisted way I see myself and where I am that I may miss God and what He is doing. Also, I may have a wrong perspective of God at times. I can look at my situation and think, where is God in this? He promised never to leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). So why can’t I see Him or feel Him? Then one of Satan’s favorite lies pops up; God doesn’t love you. This lie is so destructive, and Satan knows it. This lie can change my perspective about myself and God. I can not allow this is to happen. I must go to the Bible and look at the scriptures that combat this lie. Of course, we always point to John 3:16 to show God’s love, but there is also 1 John 4:9-11, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:37-39, and Isaiah 54:10, to name a few.
One scripture that gives me strength and hope when I am trying to get my thoughts straightened out is “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11. It helps me remember that God is in charge of my life, and He has wonderful plans for my good and His glory.
I am learning the importance of pulling back and looking at situations from a different point of view. Two examples of ways to do this may be pulling back on a picture to see its context and google earth. When my kids were small, they liked to go on the computer and look at our house from the sky. It seemed tiny and insignificant, but when we got down to the street level, it was easier to see it in reference to the other houses in the neighborhood. Sometimes it may be necessary for me to pull back and see myself in the grander scheme of things. I have context in the world around me. Although I may feel small and insignificant, a street-level perspective also shows me where I fit in daily life. I have recognized both views are necessary to have a healthy outlook. At times I have zoomed in on a picture too much. The image becomes significantly distorted to the point that I cannot see the picture. Once I zoom out again, everything comes back into focus. If I focus too closely on what I am thinking or going through, everything may get fuzzy as I am close to the situation. I need to pull back, take some time to think, read the Bible, get some sleep, and then things get sharper and easier to see the clear perspective. I want to remember that if closely looking at my life brings judgment and condemnation, that is not from God or good for me. However, if it brings growth, maybe even conviction, I need to take a closer look because that could be God transforming me into what He wants me to be. God comes alongside me and speaks truth into my soul. He may use the people along my path that speak a word of encouragement, just when I need it, or a devotional that ministers to me on a day when I am susceptible to Satan’s lies.
I want to be more aware of the people around me that may need a word of encouragement. It may help them change their perspective and be God showing His love to them.
Peace in the Desert 