"The proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity"
Dictionary.com
Looking at life and all it's various situations properly takes a proper perspective. That perspective is sometimes skewed by wrong ideas, thoughts, beliefs, theology, and or illness. Each day we live, we get that one day to view the world and our current circumstances, whatever they may be. Sometimes our perspective is bright and full of hope. Then there are days where it seems our perspective is only doom and gloom. So, how is that we can have a proper perspective?
The Apostle Paul seem to "always" have a right perspective of his life and the things going on around him. In 2 Corinthians 4 he writes
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (emphasis added) (verses 7,8 & 9)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (emphasis added) (verses 16, 17 & 18)
No matter the situation, Paul found himself in, he had the right proper perspective. He understood that life was not about him but rather the glory of God and the unseen. He understood that the unseen was eternal and his eyes were squarely on that truth.
Often I find myself being overwhelmed with life's issues and circumstances and I fail to keep that proper perspective that the Lord is in control. I fail to remember that I need to keep my eyes on Jesus and the unseen things rather than on my circumstances. I sometimes wonder why it is that I struggle with this area of my life. I think a part of the issue is that I want to control everything and I want everything to be easy. Well, that is not going to always be case and so I must strive everyday to keep things in proper perspective so that I will see things the way God sees them and I won't become distracted from the calling that God has on my life.
My prayer for myself and you is that we would keep that right perspective and not waste time being anxious over things we cannot control.
Take care
