It Is All About Perspective Ya’ll!

By Yiniva Brandon:

Being thankful shouldn’t be confined to one season or month a year.  But there seems to be a concentrated focus on being thankful during the holidays, especially during the month of November.  Though, what brings a sense of joy, excitement, and feeling connected to others during this time of year also brings stress, sadness, isolation, and despair for others.  How is it that one season can create both joy and dread?   Even the season of autumn can be seen by some as a devasting end to summer.  But for others it is an exciting time to celebrate God’s artwork in the beauty of the seasons changing.  Reality versus experience come into play here too (that is a loaded statement, but we’ll come back to that another time).  It is all in the way things are seen…it is all about perspective, rooted in God’s truth (Proverbs 30:5, John 16:13, and Colossians 2:6-7 “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”)

Thankfulness is a reaction to something or someone that makes us realize how blessed and fortunate we are.  Or simply being appreciative that we received something that we didn’t or couldn’t do for ourselves.  Thankfulness asks us to acknowledge that something or someone outside of ourselves produced a positive or desired outcome.  Thankfulness, can move us to be “others’ centered and not just focused on what we have received.  But at the same time, being thankful for what we have received not only keeps us humble, but shows us the heart of the person who did the kind deed. Furthermore, it is taking a moment to remember that anything good we have or do is from the Lord and that all credit belongs to Him.  This perspective reminds us of who God is and who we are not.  God is our provider and giver of all good things. 

On the other hand, this time of year can stir up feelings in people that are the opposite of thankfulness for a variety of reasons.  Some people don’t believe that this time of year warrants a grateful attitude because of how they have been treated and they may feel that an injustice has been done to them or someone they love.  It can be very difficult for someone to feel thankfulness in their heart when they feel this way.  And it is not our job to change them or how they feel.  But it is our privilege to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry with them.  And to pray for them as the Holy Spirit leads us.  Praying for them can also be a way to give them and yourself room to grow in this season as Jesus reveals truth to everyone involved.  So, when praying, stand in the gap of gratitude for them, thanking God, our father, for all that He has done and will do in their lives.  God’s willing, in time they will look vertically to Him and not horizontally to others in order to be satisfied.  Prayerfully, their perspective will be what God, not you, wants it to be.

This time of year can also impact the outlook that some people have in life as a result of unexpected events, differences of opinion, transitions, poverty, grief, loneliness, health issues, or dysfunctional relationships. At the core of some of these reasons is the desire to be cared for, appreciated, acknowledged, loved, and connected to others authentically because it makes them feel validated and valuable.  Sharing space with someone who is facing challenging situations in life may require you to deny certain personal conveniences.  This may be so that the one experiencing the challenges can witness godly attributes of the Lord through your life.  If Jesus is leading you to walk along someone in this season of life who lacks thankfulness, let your actions be louder than words by living in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  You will need the power of the Holy Spirit to do this, so ask Him for the power to do it.  But also read the room people lol! It is important to use discernment in knowing that there is a time and place for everything.  So, be sensitive to people and their emotional state when deciding how to or how not to act.  While being thankful that Jesus is using your life to make a difference in someone else’s. And, sometimes you don’t have to do anything because silence can be golden too.  It is all about perspective friends. 

We have been created by God as beings who are mind, body, and soul.  Which is why for most people, connecting on each of those levels is so important.  And when connections are not made in those ways, it can leave some to feel abandoned, that hope is out of reach, or that who they are is based on things of this earth, instead of believing who Jesus says they are.  But there is hope, help, and things to be thankful for even in the midst of challenges.  There really are.  And this can be revealed when people who are discouraged are in relationship or community with others who have their best interests at heart (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

The art of being able to approach this season with wisdom is not easy.  But what helps is being prepared mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to accept where people are at in their lives.  We can be prepared by denying ourselves things that can be a distracting to us praying and meditating on scriptures from God’s word, the Holy Bible.  Doing these things before the holiday dinner or get togethers are not magic fairy dust, but it can help us see things in a mature, godly way.  And to hopefully see people as image bearers of God and not the choices they make.  Leave any judgment and revenge that might be felt as a result of possibly being offended by someone this season up to God.  And thank Him for opening the eyes of your heart to see that you are growing in spiritual maturity and not haughtiness. 

Choosing to be kind to someone does not mean that you accept or condone their views.  But choosing to show kindness to someone who does not deserve it shows that there is not only a greater power at work in our lives, but that we know and remember everything that we were not deserving of when God allowed us to understand how much Jesus sacrificed for us while we were still sinners. 

This season should be about more than just telling others what we are thankful for.  This season and other times throughout the year should be opportunities to actually move on acts of gratitude towards others.  And to also show the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit gratitude or thankfulness in how we steward our time, talents, and resources as acts of worship to Him.  

When we allow God’s word to influence and challenge our perspective in a society that tells us to do whatever we want, we will find that the reward of seeing God’s perspective on how to live life can be difficult, but it is secure. Choosing God’s perspective is secure, trustworthy, and comprehensive.  But to understand God’s perspective you must read the Bible.  And if you ask Jesus to help you understand it, HE will.  And He also says that if you confess your sins…and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  That is a perspective based on truth that has my spirit jumping for joy! Hallelujah!

There are many perspectives to choose from in this world, so choose to have a perspective on things this season that will produce an attitude of gratitude, and a perspective that produces an environment for healing, community, joy, laughter, and truth in love.  It’s all about perspective ya’ll! God’s perspective. 

God bless and keep you this season, in Jesus’ name amen. 

For further encouragement and insight  please read the book of James in the Holy Bible