Keeping perspective…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.
Frances Hodgson Burnett
While on a short hike with my pup in a desert mountain area, I took a break for some purposeful quiet time with God. No Bible. No prayer list. No study. No AGENDA! Just time for my Father and I to be together. The word “perspective” came to mind. You see, earlier in the day, I had been texting and talking with a couple friends, trying to figure out how to change a trip to include other friends, yet still hold true to the original intent to spend time with one very close friend.
Perspective is so important as we seek to follow God’s heart and design for our lives, yet our human side wants to figure things out on our own and make everyone around us happy in the moment. The truth is that happiness is fleeting, and true joy is found in God, regardless of circumstances. My responsibility is to love others and seek wisdom from my Father in how to do so, then let God be in control of the rest. His perspective in how I’m to use my limited time, energy, and monetary resources to love others…is always the best plan.
As things worked out, God knew that it wasn’t in His plan for me to try to coordinate “togetherness happiness” for everyone for that trip. The original plan is still in place and I’m at peace with that, even as I pray for my friends to be able to work out plans to suit their needs and wishes. When all is said and done, we’ll all have fun swapping stories this summer from our similar yet different trips.
Just as the houses below me on my walk seemed so small due to my perspective, I need to always remember that God’s perspective is different than mine, so much bigger and always best.