I have always really loved the quote from Stuart Little ‘what’s the silver lining?’ I thought it was such a noble idea to find the good which would allow me to be at peace no matter my circumstances. I am learning that I can find the positive and be grateful for more than just the big events that happen in my life, but also in every situation; people and my interactions with them, the places I go and my day to day experiences. However, I am learning that finding the silver lining is more than just looking for the good, it is a choice to allow God to shift my perspective. It is trusting that God is good, knowing every experience of my life runs through His hands and believing in my core that He has my best interest in mind out of His love for me. It is being willing to have the Holy Spirit shape how I see everything, through His eternal lens rather than my human earthly perspective.

As God is slowly shifting my perspective, one area I am seeing change is how I view small daily frustrations like leaving the house later than I intended or sitting in a traffic jam. Leaving late is something I have control over and have struggled with for a lot of years because I am always trying to do one more thing before I leave. One of the last times I didn’t allow enough time, I felt anxious the entire drive that I was going to be late for my appointment. I was annoyed at traffic and other drivers, driving aggressively to attempt to make up time. As I was driving home, I realized that by leaving late I was creating undue stress in my life which shifted my view of squeezing in another task as not worth the time it took. Traffic on the other hand is something outside of my control. Yet, I can still allow God to shape how I see this annoyance. Perhaps the traffic is something that gives me more alone time with Him in the car, or more time to talk to the person riding with me. Maybe it sets me back 5 minutes so I avoid an accident, or perhaps it is a place where God is growing my patience and I simply need to accept it, acknowledging that some inconveniences are a part of life because I am not the only person in this world. Maybe my problem with traffic is not really a problem at all but rather an assistance or even an answer to prayer.

I think that often I don’t see an answer to prayer because I am looking for it to only come one way, which is my will in my timing. Sometimes when I allow God to direct my perspective I can see things that are not necessarily obvious at first glance. I can see that maybe my broken down car is an opportunity to take a look at making a budget to better allow and plan for life’s unexpected events. I consider that maybe not selling my home quickly is because God is waiting for the right buyer, or the right property to go for sale for us. My sickness may be exactly what I need to slow down or my loved one’s hospitalization enough for me to be more appreciative and grateful for them and even a chance for me to thank God because every day is a gift. The storms of life will come and maybe they are an opportunity for me to learn to accept them as a part of life, stop fighting the reality of them and allow the rock of Jesus to sustain me through each crashing wave. 

One area of life where there can easily be difficulties is in my relationships. Interacting and living with other people can be challenging and requires so much give and take. Perhaps an argument is an opportunity for me to see myself more clearly and recognize where I have gone off the rails. It can be a chance for God to show me what my part is in the problem and a place for Him to grow me spiritually. Additionally, when I have a problem with another person, it is an opportunity for me to ask God to shift my perspective to be able to see it from their point of view. When what someone else is saying to me may feel controlling or pushy, perhaps it comes from a place of love and well intentioned. They may not know that their motives could be fear and pain or their desire to help me, however neither do I. I can ask God to help me see them as He sees them and grow my compassion and empathy for them, which can help me to be more patient with others. As I focus on their good intentions I allow God to shift my perspective which allows me to grow the good I see in people.

What I water grows; if I constantly look at what I don’t like, what needs to change and what’s wrong with others, that is exactly what I will get and it will seem to get bigger over time. If however, I allow God to shift my perspective and change the way I look at things, the good in my life will grow. On some level what I perceive is my reality, so if I shift my perspective it changes how I see everything. While there are some things that are painful in this life, as I accept them and stop avoiding difficulty, I can find peace amidst my suffering.

Practice For Today

Today I will be willing and ask God to shape my perspective to see things from His point of view. I acknowledge that my point of view is based upon my life experiences and often is very short sighted so I can only see what is right in front of me. I will seek His eternal view rather than focusing on the difficulty that is right in front of me. When interacting with other people I will ask God for the supernatural ability to see things as others perceive them to allow me to pour out patience, compassion, empathy and understanding even when those relationships are challenging.

Romans 12:12, 18 ESV     Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer … If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Colossians 3:2 NIV     Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.