To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.— Stephen R. Covey
As the Israelites journeyed from the Red Sea towards the Promised Land, twelve spies were sent to spy out Canaan. Their assignment was to observe, discern, sample and report back to the people so that they can go up and take the land. Though they saw evidence of abundance as God had promised, the overall perspective of ten differed from that of Caleb and Joshua. "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it... [The other ten spies said] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Num. 10:30 & 33, KJV, emphasis added).
Why this remarkable difference in perspectives?
The outward focus of each group was set by their inward beliefs and mindset about themselves.
All twelve did see the milk and honey but other things in the land gripped the attention of ten. The giants became more glaring to the ten than God's promise. If these ten who had literally seen the Red Sea part and walked through it on dry ground still doubted God’s power, then the unbelief in their hearts and mind was deep-seated.
What is shaping your perspective about issues in your life? Whose report have you believed? Who are you listening to? What are you seeing? What is the source of your information about people and issues? Have you viewed your current circumstances from God's perspective? Or are you just siding with popular opinions? Your view of yourself, God and people around you to a large extent determine what you make of life and who you become.
"We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."
If you think little of yourself and your God, your outlook and outcome in life will be little too.
Like the children of Israel, we often have mixed situations in our lives and we cannot deny the challenges facing us. It may seem rational to buck off certain problems, veer from the original plan we perceived from God or simply quit. But can we trust the God who has brought us this far and focus on His options? Can we allow Him to draw us to His side so that we can see what He sees beyond the mountains in our way? So long as we look at the wrong things we can never change the situation or receive what God has for us. Albert Einstein said,
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”
When our hearts are overwhelmed, can we ask Him to lead us to a higher ground so we can share His view and build courage to possess our promise?
Job's story is relatable in life's challenges but it also helps us to appreciate the power of perspective. For us readers with a more complete view from the background of Job's suffering to the eventual outcome, we see the parts God and Satan played. But Job, the sufferer, was puzzled and he sometimes erred in his commentary on his predicaments and his questions to God. From hindsight, we see how inhumane and senseless Job's friends were to attribute his sufferings to sin while justifying themselves as speaking for God. But don't we sometimes act like Job's friends? We often speak boldly about issues we don’t understand, not considering if we have the full perspective. Can it be that we're making wrong judgements on issues facing us or other people because we have incomplete or wrong perspectives?
The mere mention of the names of former American presidents - Barack Obama, Donald Trump, George Bush - evokes mixed responses, admiration, dislike, respect or anger. We have likely had no interaction with any of them yet, but our views of them have been shaped by the media we follow or our political affiliations. No wonder it's said that whoever controls what you hear and see controls your belief.
When Jesus walked the earth and performed miracles by the power of God, his observers held different opinions. The Pharisees, by reason of the envy in their hearts and their expected image of Messiah, could not regard Him as a God-sent man. The commoners could tell from His teachings and signs that He was sent by God. Yet the very people who taught and read Scriptures about Him could not recognize Him. When he healed a man born blind, they said he was a sinner and could not come from God. Is it possible that we are ascribing things God is doing in our lives to the devil or vice versa? This is why I often pray,
"Lord, help me to see things the way you do. Help me to see people the way you see them."
You probably recall from technical drawing lessons that a three-dimensional object may look different depending on your viewpoint. The plan, front view and side view may differ: each is accurate yet one-sided and incomplete without the other perspectives. We may not all have the same perspectives in life but we can learn to see from other people's perspectives and appreciate their viewpoints. Ultimately, God alone sees all perspectives and through His Word and Spirit, he can correct and enrich ours. This is why having an intimate relationship with God and seeing from His perspective is very crucial.
Dale Carnegie tells a story about two prisoners. “They looked out from the prison bars: one saw the stars, and the other saw the mud.’’ One looked up, the other looked down. One saw light in the horizon above, the other saw the gloominess on the ground below. One had a picture of possibilities, the other a reminder of mess. Like the spies, both prisoners were presented with an opportunity but they each had a different focus. When you look into the future ahead from your present situation, what do you see?
At any point in time, we are presented with the good and bad but we must decide what to focus on. When we allow our challenges and lack to dominate our thinking, we'll lose sight of the good things God is working. If we can look out for just one good thing to be thankful for, a ray of hope will shine to reveal the countless good that are not yet obvious to us. American Author, Jen Sincero, said
"gratitude is one of the strongest and most transformative states of being. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance and allows you to focus on the good in your life, which in turn pulls more goodness into your reality".
Change your perspective and change your reality!