I recently came across this Facebook post in my memories from December, 2013; I thought it was a good one to share for when you struggle to take the God perspective in life.
2 Kings 6:15-17 reads, “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Elisha, realizing that his servant was struggling after seeing how numerous their enemies were, prayed a simple prayer for Gehazi: that the Lord would open his eyes so he could see the situation from an elevated, Godly perspective. He didn’t ask that their enemies be killed, neither did he ask that the Lord send reinforcements to help them destroy their enemies. In that moment, Elisha recognized that Gehazi’s faith was under attack and the eyes of his understanding needed enlightenment, so he prayed for the Lord to heal his perspective that his faith in the Lord might increase.
Learning to take the Lord’s perspective in the midst of trials, storms, battles, and valleys is paramount for coming out on the other side of those ordeals in victory. As I grow spiritually, I realize that the Lord intentionally bypasses the option to rescue me from my life because His intention is to teach me to see just how adept He is at making all things (that He takes me through or allows) work out for my good. His ability to be God isn’t relegated to Him being able to deliver us from our enemies as He did the children of Israel at the Red Sea. Actually, He is still God when our Lazarus dies and the window closes for resurrection. He’s still God when you have been working and laboring to make ends meet like Peter and the disciples, but you’ve come up empty-handed and disappointed. He’s still God when you’ve witnessed your enemies, as Hannah did, be effortlessly blessed with the very blessing that you’ve kept in prayer before Him for years, but still hasn’t come to pass.
Teaching you to take Godly perspective in hardship is the Lord taking the opportunity to grow, fortify, and solidify your faith because He wants to demonstrate His glory through you to the world by showing what it means when God is with you through it all.
This is a scripture that I’ve been living out for the past 3 years. It’s not easy to digest the realization that “all things” really includes ALL THINGS…good, bad, enjoyable, unpleasant, feel good, hurts like crazy, full of light, darkest moments ever, mountaintop and valley experiences. Romans 8:28 declares and reminds us, “And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Such is the idea of Godly perspectiv-taking…”I don’t know when and I can’t see how, but I trust that everything is going to be alright.”
©️ Nikki Anthony for www.HeyDaughterGirl.com
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