Perspective is everything! By Brett Martin 
A favorite nugget of wisdom of mine that has helped bring proper perspective is the saying “You can’t see the forest through the trees.”
Sometimes we can be so immersed in what we are navigating that we have trouble seeing and experiencing God and His presence in the midst of trials, challenges and difficulties.
If we are not careful, we can quickly blame God and take offense when things don’t turn out the way we want or expect. And when this happens, unknowingly, we sever intimacy and relationship with the One whom we truly need.
Has this ever happened to you or have you done this unknowingly?
If we are honest, I think most of us have thought that if we have God in our lives, then everything should turn out wonderful and that we will never experience problems.
The truth is that God never promises this in His Word. But what He does promise is that He will be with us in trials and that He will never leave us nor forsake us and that He is a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother.
Let me offer you another perspective. It might seem crazy. It doesn’t make sense to our natural minds and emotions. But in the epistle of James, he describes how we should handle trials and disappointments.
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 MSG
Even Jesus struggled. Before being crucified on a cross, in the garden of Gethsemane, according to Luke, His despair was so deep that he sweated drops of blood. (Luke 22:40-46) In fact, this was His prayer. “Abba Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mark 14:36)
The disciples of Jesus were learning a powerful lesson. Their idea of Jesus being the fulfillment of years of prophetic promise to bring hope, deliverance and freedom was being confronted.
How could the very one they put their faith and trust in to bring hope, now be dead, hung on a cross, in front of everyone to see? Their limited, frail, human idea of who their Messiah was now dead. Along with their pride, hopes and dreams.
I love this example from Jesus’ life- He had the right perspective! He wasn’t focused on his trials or what was coming His way. His eyes and heart were focused on eternity.
In the book of Hebrews, the author describes it like this, “His example is this; Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” (12:2)
Let’s have the right perspective! Let’s keep our eyes and hearts on Christ and be thankful!