A Different Perspective
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"
-Matthew 6:25
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief of all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:6-9
It's my birthday. I'm sixty one. Wow! I'm not sure how happened. Sounds cliché, but it really does seem like yesterday I was dancing at teen town, having fun, not caring about anything except what happened that evening. Sometimes I really miss those days, mainly because I had no worries. But also because I wish I could do so many things differently. It's a matter of perspective I guess.
We all start out that way. The world is very small to an infant or toddler. That baby doesn't know or care that she is keeping mom and dad from getting any amount of decent sleep. She needs to eat and she needs it Now! Period. Later, the fact that there is another child present who also wants to play with the toys is really quite irrelevant. He wants the truck.... End of discussion. As kindergarteners, playground arguments abound because Tina is MY friend, and she should only and forever play with me and me only. Teens frequently use each other to fulfill personal needs, whether those needs be social, sexual, academic or whatever. Even as adults we use other people to further our own agenda. The circle around us as individuals is all that really matters. Things that make us happy and content are extremely important.
I have always been a worrier. I could work myself up into a complete frenzy based on events that happened to me or my loved ones. But as I get older and develop my relationship with Christ, this is really changing for me. You know it really doesn't matter what we have, where we live, or even what we go through in this life. Whether my grandchildren make the team or get straight A's or are really good looking is not life defining for them. Making cheerleader, hitting a home run, or being popular aren't either. With that being said, we are human. We want our loved ones to be happy. It breaks our hearts to see our child cry because someone else hurt her feelings. When a tear drips down the face of a parent who faces a health crisis or loneliness, it tears us in two. We want what is best for those we love. But here is where the problem exists. The best might not always be the easiest or most pleasant......and sometimes that is very difficult for us to understand.
One of my favorite songs is "Blessings". By Laura Story. I'm going to include the lyrics here, and I hope that you read them slowly, thinking about what they really say:
This provides great comfort to me, because I know personally the truth revealed in this statement. No matter what happens. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, God is there . He's in it. And that's enough. Now don't get me wrong. Sadness, tears, all of these may come. But agony? Complete destruction emotionally and spiritually? Nope. Because we win in the end.....we really do.
After I started writing this, we spent the rest of my birthday at the hospital awaiting the arrival of our 7th grandchild Kennedy Lee Prevo. Of course she's perfect. Like the other 6 grandchildren we have. But Kennedy is the first grandchild born to us since my perspective on life has changed so dramatically. When I look at her, I see something different than I saw before. I want her to be happy above all things. And I know that there is one simple word that will assure that happiness....Jesus. So that is my prayer for her. Because I want her happiness, I want Jesus for her. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, her happiness lies in that one word. And mine does too. If my family knows Jesus, I don't have to worry about them. They are taken care of for eternity. Whatever else happens, they are ok. Really ok in every way that matters.
I'm really not a worrier anymore. Concern, yes sometimes. But not frantic, gut-wrenching, hysterical worry. The only thing that really "worries" me now is my loved ones' relationship with Christ. And I can turn that over to Him, because it's His job anyway. It's a different perspective..... and the freedom and joy it gives is unbelievable!
-Matthew 6:25
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief of all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:6-9
It's my birthday. I'm sixty one. Wow! I'm not sure how happened. Sounds cliché, but it really does seem like yesterday I was dancing at teen town, having fun, not caring about anything except what happened that evening. Sometimes I really miss those days, mainly because I had no worries. But also because I wish I could do so many things differently. It's a matter of perspective I guess.
We all start out that way. The world is very small to an infant or toddler. That baby doesn't know or care that she is keeping mom and dad from getting any amount of decent sleep. She needs to eat and she needs it Now! Period. Later, the fact that there is another child present who also wants to play with the toys is really quite irrelevant. He wants the truck.... End of discussion. As kindergarteners, playground arguments abound because Tina is MY friend, and she should only and forever play with me and me only. Teens frequently use each other to fulfill personal needs, whether those needs be social, sexual, academic or whatever. Even as adults we use other people to further our own agenda. The circle around us as individuals is all that really matters. Things that make us happy and content are extremely important.
I have always been a worrier. I could work myself up into a complete frenzy based on events that happened to me or my loved ones. But as I get older and develop my relationship with Christ, this is really changing for me. You know it really doesn't matter what we have, where we live, or even what we go through in this life. Whether my grandchildren make the team or get straight A's or are really good looking is not life defining for them. Making cheerleader, hitting a home run, or being popular aren't either. With that being said, we are human. We want our loved ones to be happy. It breaks our hearts to see our child cry because someone else hurt her feelings. When a tear drips down the face of a parent who faces a health crisis or loneliness, it tears us in two. We want what is best for those we love. But here is where the problem exists. The best might not always be the easiest or most pleasant......and sometimes that is very difficult for us to understand.
One of my favorite songs is "Blessings". By Laura Story. I'm going to include the lyrics here, and I hope that you read them slowly, thinking about what they really say:
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
Gods greatest lessons to me...the ones that changed me forever, are the ones that seemed like disaster at the time. In fact, the most profound trial I faced, the last straw so to speak, was the dramatic turning point of my life. While laying on the floor, sobbing, thinking I had nothing left in this life, I found I had one thing.....the only thing....the most important Thing. My life is totally different since that day. I know I can survive anything, because He is there, just like He has promised.
I am reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. Well, I say reading.....let me rephrase that. I am reading it when I REMEMBER I have it. I bought it as an e-book. Since the physical book is not sitting by my Bible for my devotional time, I forget I have it. So, I read it when I remember it. Anyway, I highly recommend this book for all of us in this crazy busy world. Something I read from this book this morning is very relevant here. In this portion, Weaver was pointing out lessons learned from Lazarus. If you remember, Jesus had been informed of Lazarus' illness and impending death . Rather than rushing to his aid, Jesus waited 4 days to go to them. Sound familiar ? How many times have you called out to Jesus with seemingly no response? Did you get upset or feel deserted? Like your prayers were bouncing off the walls ? Like He wasn't there? Weaver says:
“The truth of Lazarus and the secret of the resurrection is this: If Jesus Christ can turn death into life, sorrow into gladness, suffering into triumph—then nothing truly bad can ever touch our lives again. Not really. Unfortunate things may happen. Difficulties may come. But it all becomes fodder for a greater work, a more glorious glory.”
This provides great comfort to me, because I know personally the truth revealed in this statement. No matter what happens. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, God is there . He's in it. And that's enough. Now don't get me wrong. Sadness, tears, all of these may come. But agony? Complete destruction emotionally and spiritually? Nope. Because we win in the end.....we really do.
After I started writing this, we spent the rest of my birthday at the hospital awaiting the arrival of our 7th grandchild Kennedy Lee Prevo. Of course she's perfect. Like the other 6 grandchildren we have. But Kennedy is the first grandchild born to us since my perspective on life has changed so dramatically. When I look at her, I see something different than I saw before. I want her to be happy above all things. And I know that there is one simple word that will assure that happiness....Jesus. So that is my prayer for her. Because I want her happiness, I want Jesus for her. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, her happiness lies in that one word. And mine does too. If my family knows Jesus, I don't have to worry about them. They are taken care of for eternity. Whatever else happens, they are ok. Really ok in every way that matters.
I'm really not a worrier anymore. Concern, yes sometimes. But not frantic, gut-wrenching, hysterical worry. The only thing that really "worries" me now is my loved ones' relationship with Christ. And I can turn that over to Him, because it's His job anyway. It's a different perspective..... and the freedom and joy it gives is unbelievable!
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