Perspective in Your Position

A couple months ago as I was driving home from work, there was an extra beautiful sunset. Brighter than normal colors, the light shining through the clouds perfectly, and the beauty of God’s creation shining through. I wanted to take a picture but I was driving on the highway and taking a picture was obviously not a good idea. So I pulled off on the next exit to try and get the photo. But, when I parked in a parking lot to take the picture, it wasn’t nearly as beautiful because the buildings were blocking it and I couldn’t see the whole sky from where I was. It was interesting because the view was so much different from the elevated highway than it was down in the parking lot. The perspective changed with my position. 

Today there was another extra beautiful sunset. It looked like a post card with the pinkish-purple sky and the mountains that looked purple against the clouds. I wanted to take a picture again but then I remembered what happened last time and remembered the view is better from the highway than it would be down in a parking lot. So I decided to keep driving instead. I did get this picture while stopped at a stoplight on the exit to our house but you still can’t see the full thing. 

It hit me tonight though that life can be kind of like this sunset. There are times when we’re on the highway of life and can see the full beauty of the journey. The ways God is working, the opportunities that are being placed in your life, and the many blessings God has provided you with. 

However, there are other times you’re in the valley, or the parking lot. It’s at these times that it’s difficult to see the full beauty, the full purpose of what you’re going through, and the extent to how God is using your situation to reach others for Christ. You can see glimpses when you look up but until you look at your situation from above, it’s hard to fully see the beauty of it. 

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

I’ll be totally transparent for a minute, this past year has had parts of it where it’s been hard to see the full purpose for what I’ve gone through. Traveling across the country for a necessary high risk surgery and then being in constant pain afterwards hasn’t been easy. In fact it’s been really tough at times, really frustrating at times, and has made me dig deeper in my faith than I ever have before. There have been times, like when I was being sent into the operating room, when it was extremely difficult to see the light and the beauty of the situation. At that time all I could see were the questions of why, the terrifying reality of how risky the surgery was, and the fears that go with having your first surgery ever (let alone one that’s across the country and super rare). Or now when I’m still in constant pain from the surgery. BUT, God is still good. God will be using this for good. He IS using this for good. My faith is getting stronger every day, I’m trying to encourage people who are going through tough situations, and God is showing me that He has a purpose and a plan for this. I’m starting to look at it from the highway rather than the parking lot behind the buildings. 

I pray that you’re able to look at whatever you’re going through from the highway also. I pray that you’re able to see the light in every area of your life. I pray you’re able to see the blessings that God gives you, even in the small things. 

I pray every day that God will use me to shine His light in someone’s life. If He uses my struggles to do that, then that’s where the beauty is. The beauty is in reaching people for Christ, is in growing the Kingdom of God, and is trusting Him with everything you have. I know God has it all in control and I’m choosing to view it as a sunset from the highway rather than bits of the sunset from behind the buildings. I pray that you choose this also.