SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE
Often, how
we respond to anyone or anything depends on our perspective. When I was
recuperating from surgery recently, I endured a difficult weekend of
pain, discomfort, stress, and finally, an explosive purge of seemingly
everything inside me. It was not a pleasant experience to say the
least. However, had I not gone through that, I would not have gotten
better. That perspective was not realized, however, until after I had
started feeling better.
Often, we cannot understand why we go through difficult times and,
certainly, we cannot see any good in it until after the crisis has
passed. Sometimes that takes a long time or we may never see it. But,
as children of God, we must develop a spiritual perspective in life in
order to be content in any and all situations as Paul was (Philippians 4:11, 12). We may
never understand why we suffer or go through trials; but, in order to
stay faithful to God through anything we encounter throughout our
lifetimes, we must trust Him when He promises “that in ALL things God
works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to HIS purpose” (Romans 8:28,
NIV, emphasis added).
What does that mean? It does NOT mean that all things that happen are
good in our life, but it DOES mean that everything we go through can
become good for us if we keep trusting, loving, and obeying God.
What is good for us? This is where our perspective and God’s
perspective often are NOT the same. Was Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7) good for him?
Because he had a spiritual perspective, he saw the good in it (2 Corinthians 1:9 and 12:7 –10). A spiritual
perspective is God’s perspective. I think James
1:2
– 4; 1 Peter 1:6, 7; and 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 all show
us
God’s perspective that NOTHING in this world is more important than our
eternal soul staying in a saved relationship with our Creator until we
die. That is a spiritual perspective, and whatever it takes to maintain
that perspective is spiritual maturity.
— Cynthia Clayton
Photo: Patty Gibson
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Does God Exist?, NovDec10.
