• A baby cries-he knows nothing but his own need to be held.
• A child demands a toy-she knows nothing about her mother's empty wallet.
• A young adult is lonely and wishes for that special someone.
• A wife complains because her husband won't take out the garbage.
• A young couple whines because of lack of sleep done to a babies cry.
• A couple cries because of childlessness.
• A wife envies her single friends freedom.
• A widow envies her married friends closeness.
• God speaks to one of His children and he cries, "but why now, Lord? I can't " Another child cries out to hear His voice.

It is all a matter of perspective. According to Webster's dictionary to keep things "in perspective" means literally and figuratively to keep the important and the unimportant things in their Koper places. How easy it is for us to get our views misaligned. To lose sight of what is important and relevant to the call and cause of Christ.

During our ministry trip to Vermont in March, God began to show me the importance of examining and looking at things from His perspective. To begin to ask myself how does He see things? How can I be sure that I am looking at things as He would?

God reveals His perspective to us through His Word. As we study and meditate on His Word we will walk in a clearer understanding of His perspective. As we read His Word and study the lives of those written there, we can discover and hopefully learn from their experiences.

The prophet Elijah, in a depressed mood, fearing for his life hides away under a juniper tree, praying that he might die! (I Kings 19:4). This was after he had seen the 450 prophets of Baal defeated by the miraculous intervention of God! What happened to Elijah that caused him to lose his perspective about his situation? Elijah was tired, worn out...exhausted. When we allow ourselves to get so weary that we literally can't "think straight", we lose our perspective. Elijah had stood against the prophets of Baal, confronted Ahab, prayed for the ending of the 3 year drought and then ran 25 miles ahead of Ahab to Jezreell He was spiritually, physically, and no doubt emotionally spent. He then heard that Jezebel had sent a message vowing to kill him by the next day. So, Elijah, afraid for his life, ran to Beersheba! Examining his situation we see he was no doubt tired, and isolated. He is much more vulnerable to respond in fear than the threat.

Isn't this a time of vulnerability for us all? When we are tired, alone and receive bad news? Fortunately, for Elijah's sake as well as our own, God does not leave us comfortless without a way of escape. For Elijah, he sent an chef angel, (remember, the angel cooked him some food?) who then told Elijah to lay down and rest. Dear sisters,
how many times do we need to just stop, take a nap and let God's restorative word minister to us ... as well as perhaps the preparation of a simple meal or a stop by the local pizzeria! As you read the rest of Elijah's story, you will notice God graciously helped adjust El ah's perspective.

Elijah felt all alone, that only he was left to fight the battle of the Lord. When "nobody knows the trouble I've seen" becomes our theme song, we struggle against feelings of resentment and self centeredness. We begin to lose our perspective of why we are following Christ in the first place. We lose our joy of service and it begins to impact the way we treat our family members and co-workers. We find ourselves drinking the "whines" of life more than from the river of life.

A friend of mine, here in Oak Harbor, talks about looking at things from the Eternal perspective - getting the big picture. The example God showed me was the building of a house. You need to have the finished plans before you can start building... then you work backwards. The construction crews keep checking the architect plans to make sure they will end up with the right final design. God, His Word, and His Spirit give us His plans for our family, our personal lives, our ministry direction. We must continue to check back with those plans if we want to build the design of His choosing.

Storms come into every life. There was a dust storm, during the 30s, in West Texas that literally turned the sky black on a Sunday-at 3:00 p.m. you would have thought it was midnight. If a person didn't know by looking at the clock that it was 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon, his perspective would have gotten off and he could have thought it was 3:00 a.m.! Spiritual storms, emotionally troubles, and physical attacks can cause us to lose our perspective. We all experience them. To pity or mock poor Elijah for seemingly losing his grip really is not fair. We need to learn from his situation. I believe Elisha did. That is why we see him walking so surely and determinedly after Elijah passes his mantle on to him. What a wonderful gift we can give others-to live our life with God's perspective so that others will learn to keep theirs also. Elijah allowed his perspective to change when God came on the scene. How many times we read God's word of hope and we continue in our doldrums and dis-ease because they seem more real than His words of truth. We need to learn to walk by faith not by not our own sight, emotions or thoughts. Faith walking can only be carried out by keeping God's perspective. If we want to accomplish God's call on our lives then we must seek His perspective.

For some of us, we just need to adjust our thinking, renew our minds and get on with it. For others, it is a matter of growing up in the ways of the Kingdom. Children see things differently than adults. As we grow into adulthood as Christians in all areas of our lives we will be able to "keep things in perspective". Remember our definition? "To keep the important and the unimportant things in their proper places".

So, Wise Women of God, determine to follow and keep God's perspective. Choose to settle in your hearts that His perspective will become your perspective. Be alert for those things that would seek to knock you off that course!

Side Note:

As you read through the introduction to this article did you find yourself thinking you knew the whole story? We make judgments based on our own perspective so many times. Would it matter if the "baby" was 2 months? Or 2 years? If the child was 3 and had a roomful of toys or the child was 6 and had been invited to a birthday party? You get my drift we must remember only God really has the right full understanding of things. We so often only look on the outside, making our judgments and walk on. Sisters, seeking God's perspective will help us discern our proper response in helping others. Then we can truly minister from His grace and His mercy. Let's keep our perspective!

Submitted by: Martha Rodman