This week, I felt led to share something that has been on my heart: the importance of having the right perspective.
Let me ask you something. How important do you believe it is to have the right perspective?
I would venture to say that perspective matters more than we sometimes realize. It influences how we see ourselves, how we interpret the actions of others, how we respond to life’s challenges, and even how we see God.
These days, it seems especially easy to misunderstand someone, mishear what was said, or misinterpret something we’ve read or seen. We live in a world where information travels quickly, opinions are formed almost instantly, and sometimes conclusions are reached before the whole story has been told.
A text message without the right tone. A conversation taken out of context. A social media post that doesn’t tell the whole story. A situation that looks one way from where we’re standing but completely different from another person’s point of view.
And before we know it, we’ve formed an opinion based on what we think we know.
But what if our perspective is wrong?
What if there’s more to the story?
What if the very thing we believe to be true is being filtered through our own experiences, disappointments, fears, or assumptions?
Perspective matters because how we see something often determines how we respond to it.
In his book The Genius of One: God’s Answer for Our Fractured World, pastor and author Greg Holder explores the importance of unity, healthy relationships, and learning to see beyond the things that divide us.
Drawing from Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Holder reminds readers of God’s desire for His people to be one. The book challenges us to consider how we relate to one another and how humility, love, and a willingness to understand can help bridge the gaps between us.
What a powerful reminder for the times we’re living in…….
We don’t all have the same experiences. We don’t all come from the same backgrounds. We don’t all process information or respond to situations in the same way. And that’s okay. But if we’re going to love people the way Christ calls us to love them, we must be willing to look beyond our own limited understanding.
- Sometimes that means listening a little longer.
- Sometimes it means asking another question.
- Sometimes it means extending grace instead of jumping to conclusions.
- And sometimes it means admitting that we may not have the full picture.
Proverbs 18:13 reminds us of the danger of answering a matter before hearing it.
How often do we do just that?
I know I’ve had moments when I’ve had to reconsider my own perspective.
When Life Shapes the Way We See God
As I thought about perspective this week, my mind went back to my childhood.
I was only four years old when my daddy died.
At that age, I couldn’t possibly understand the magnitude of what had happened. I only knew that someone who was supposed to be part of my life was no longer there.
Growing up without my father affected me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later.
There were questions. There were emotions. There was the reality of watching other children experience something I didn’t have.
And although my mother worked hard to raise us and provide what we needed, the absence of my father was still a part of my story.
As a little girl, I saw fatherhood through the lens of loss.
And when your earliest understanding of a father is connected to absence, it can influence how you understand the very idea of having a Heavenly Father.
But here’s what I’ve learned along my faith journey.
My earthly experience with fatherhood did not define the character of my Heavenly Father.
I had to learn to see God through the truth of His Word rather than through the pain of my circumstances.
What a difference that makes! Abba Father: A Different Perspective
Romans 8:15 tells us that through the Spirit of adoption, we can cry out, “Abba, Father.”
I love that.
The word Abba comes from Aramaic and is an intimate, deeply personal way of addressing one’s father. It communicates the closeness of a child who belongs, who is loved, and who can approach their father with confidence. Think about that for a moment. The Creator of heaven and earth invites us into that kind of relationship.
Not a distant relationship. Not one where we must earn His attention. But a relationship rooted in His love.
For a little girl who grew up without her earthly father, understanding God as Abba Father changes the perspective!
I may have experienced the loss of my daddy, but I am not without a Father.
Psalm 68:5 describes God as a father to the fatherless.
And Psalm 27:10 reminds us that even when earthly parents are absent, the Lord receives us.
Those scriptures don’t erase the pain of loss. They don’t replace the memories we wish we could have made or the moments we wish we could have shared.
But they remind us that loss does not have to be the final word over our lives.
I can look back and acknowledge the hurt while also recognizing the faithfulness of God.
I can see what was missing without overlooking what He has provided.
I can remember the little girl who lost her daddy while celebrating the woman who has come to know her Heavenly Father.
That’s the power of a changed perspective.
I wonder how many of us are carrying perspectives shaped by experiences that God wants to help us see differently.
Maybe you’ve experienced rejection, and now you find yourself expecting people to reject you.
Maybe someone betrayed your trust, and now it’s difficult to believe anyone has good intentions.
Maybe you’ve prayed for something that hasn’t happened, and you’ve begun to wonder whether God hears you.
Or maybe you’ve allowed one difficult season to convince you that your entire life will always be difficult.
I’ve learned that our feelings are real, but they don’t always reveal the whole truth.
Sometimes we need to invite the Holy Spirit to help us see what we cannot see on our own.
Proverbs 3:5–6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding.
That last part is so important.
Lean not on your own understanding.
Because our understanding is limited.
We see the moment. God sees the whole picture.
We see the obstacle. God knows the way through.
We see what we’ve lost. God knows what He is still doing in our lives.
And sometimes, the perspective we need comes not from gathering more opinions but from spending more time in His presence. Before You Respond, Consider Your Perspective
Here’s something I’m challenging myself to do, and perhaps it will encourage you as well.
Before responding to something that frustrates me, I want to ask whether I truly understand it.
Before making assumptions about someone, I want to remember that I may not know their whole story.
Before allowing fear or disappointment to shape my thinking, I want to pause and consider what God’s Word says.
And before deciding that a situation is hopeless, I want to remember who my Heavenly Father is.
This doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending difficult things don’t hurt.
It means choosing not to allow our circumstances to become the only lens through which we see life.
It means making room for truth, wisdom, grace, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
And it means being humble enough to acknowledge that sometimes our perspective needs adjusting.
A Final Thought
As I continue walking through this year with the word Surrender on my heart, I’m learning that surrender also involves the way I think.
It’s not just surrendering my plans, my desires, or my timing.
Sometimes I must surrender my assumptions. My need to understand everything. My interpretation of what I see.
Even the stories I’ve told myself about who I am because of what I’ve experienced.
The little girl who lost her daddy could have allowed that loss to define her entire understanding of fatherhood.
But through faith, I’ve come to understand something greater.
I am loved. I am seen. I belong to Him.
I have an Abba Father.
And when I look at my life through that lens, I see more than what was missing. I see the faithfulness of a God who has been present through every season.
So, I’ll leave you with this question:
Are you seeing your life, your circumstances, and the people around you through the lens of your experiences, or are you allowing God to shape your perspective?
Because sometimes the situation doesn’t have to change for us to begin seeing it differently.
Sometimes, what needs to change is the lens through which we’re looking.
And that change can make all the difference.
Until next time, be encouraged, extend grace, and remember to keep your eyes on Him.
Faithfully,
Marvlun
Scriptures for Reflection: Romans 8:15–16; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 27:10; Proverbs 3:5–6; Proverbs 18:13; John 17:20–23
