Perspective - Principles For Life

Say thank yous when you can hear me, Carly. See, that was outstanding. So, beautiful job. There's something about when siblings or family members sing. There is just a connection of tones that's unlike any other. And the message is beautiful, too. I think it'll blend in a little bit with my message along the way, so thank you for that, too. Another blessing. Humans tend to celebrate the great philosophers, the perspective givers of life. People like Confucius or Socrates or or Solomon. It's still years later, right? And many of us probably can look back in time and we can remember a couple teachers. Teachers that shared something that we will never forget or touched our lives. And it usually has nothing to do with the class they were teaching, right? It usually is because that person taught us some lasting perspective of how to face life. And so we were at weak points in our life when our perspective is most inwardly focused, we often complain. We can complain about responsibilities or obligations. For example, I can remember times where, even with Renee, I would complain and, you know, you have to be like, oh, we got to share some chores and I'm busy or something's going on. It's amazing how life treats things, right? When we face something life-threatening, like cancer, like chemo, like being widowed, at times like that, well, we desperately wish to be able to do chores again with our partner. Perspective. We love perspective principles so much that they kind of give this frame of reference through which we can look and we can understand life.

Our perspective influences everything, everything in our life, whether it's our attitudes or mindsets, our behaviors, our beliefs. One quote I read said, wisdom is looking at life from God's point of view. So today we will review eight perspective principles that I hope can assist you to look at life from God's point of view.

The first perspective principle for life is this. When God gives us a new beginning, it starts with an ending. Be thankful for closed doors. When God gives us a new beginning, it starts with an ending. Be thankful for closed doors. And I'm going to apologize up front because I was writing these more to put thoughts together and I thought this morning when I was on a walk, I was like, okay, some of these are long. I did not do this for the sake of the note taker. So you can just do a repeat or whatever the lit is. If I see that, I'll repeat it for you. But humans are taught that we should make the most of our lives, right? Because it's good. It's good to become educated. It's good to become well-employed and have a loving family, right? To enjoy life. But this misnomer that all humans can be fooled with at times is to think we have ultimate control over our lives. And each new day can and it certainly will give us obstacles that humble us. Humble any concept that we're the one in control, right? We get these curveballs thrown our way. None of us hold our tomorrows fully in our hands. And so what do we do with that? It's in the face of this lack of control that some people become stressed or afraid or uncertain. Now, if you'll turn to James 4, verse 13 through 15, James 4, 13 through 15, as people who are blessed with a spiritual understanding, we have the advantage of realizing our tomorrows are in God's hand. And that gives great peace. While we may not know for sure what tomorrow or future will hold, we know that God can influence the variables and he has an overall plan, right, that's for our eternal future, if we put our faith and our trust in him. James 4, verse 13 to start with.

Come now, you who say today or tomorrow, we will go to such and such a city. Spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit. Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.

One of my most remembered quotes from college. It actually came from a sermon when I was in college, but for whatever reason, it resonated with me. It's not all change is growth, but all growth is change. Not all change is growth, but all growth is change. So what do we do with that?

Some people keep living with what they don't like in their lives out of fear of doing a different thing. They're owned by their weaknesses, but they protect and they endure them because they're this known enemy. Get the concept it's your known enemy, so you're like, I can't let go of it. I know it's not a good thing or may not be the best thing, but I don't know what's on the other side of the door. And I would argue Satan loves that approach because Satan knows that our default setting is based on human nature, which is in opposition to God. So that plays very well into his hands. We all have the opportunities and the responsibility to choose our pain. Sounds like something from a movie line, right? But our ultimate growth and success will very often require us to fight against ourselves. You know, we can look in on the way over. I was reflecting on the fact that, you know, we could talk about I'm facing a trial, pray for me. I'm going through a trial. We don't usually say I'm going through a temptation. Yes, I'm feeling very tempted right now, but I would argue a lot of the things we suffer are because of our own weaknesses, personally, not always a trial that we're facing. Again, we very often have to fight against ourselves. Turn to Proverbs 16 and verse 5. Proverbs 16 and verse 5. See, the point is we have to change and move forward. If we try to keep one hand in the past and one hand in the future, we will never have either. To embrace a successful tomorrow, we must let go of yesterday. Proverbs 16 and verse 5. Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord, though they, speaking of everyone proud and proud in heart, join forces as a whole big group. None will go unpunished. See, so we have to choose between following our pride or to follow God's plans for us. And the first step is we have to give up our pride. Go forward a couple other verses to verse 9. It says, a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

So we can't achieve ultimate success on our own. We need God and his support and his direction in our lives. And a key learning is we must not wait until the future to become humbly seeking of God to guide us, to direct us. Because that's playing in that same logic of not wanting to let go of our pain, right? We'll get to God, but we first want to do what we want to do. Our failures are either anchors that pull us down or they're springboards to learn lessons that can lead us to improve and change. That's up to what we choose to do with it. Even the hard times, God will not waste learning opportunities or anything in our past if we're willing to let him teach us how to use that to make us better. But that's a choice and that's a perspective. We should pray for God to direct us to the future only he can help us create. Go ahead and turn back a couple verses to verse three now.

Do you ever question God's goodness when your prayers are answered the way you hope?

Another human nature type thing I think we do. Have you ever questioned whether God wants to give you good things? Again, I would challenge that at times we can pray as though God doesn't want to keep his promises because we expect our wants to be provided when we want them.

Human nature. We must learn to let God teach us that the only way to improve from our past is to make a better future learning from it. I'll now read verse three from the NIV. It says, commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans. Beautiful verse. This verse is telling us that to change our perspective we need to change from self-reliance to depending on God to guide our future and that God has this personal plan this this special connection that he wants us to align with to align with his will to get us where he wants us to go and his desire is for us to choose him so he helps us choose what's best for us. That's the connection he's wanting us to have even if it's not what we want. Turn to Romans 12 and verse 2. Not all changes growth, but all growth is change. Romans 12 and verse 2. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. So this verse encourages believers not to blindly follow worldly patterns but to renew God's will and that's what he uses to change our perspective. The second perspective principle for life is we should ask God to grant us peace to trust in his will even when we cannot understand it. We should ask God to grant us peace to trust in his will when we cannot understand it.

So why is people use information and knowledge to decide how they should act? Right? But we already clarified earlier that none of us are in control of all the variables.

So since God is the ultimate author of our lives, protection is wrong. And actually it leads to faithlessness because we're missing an area that we can learn faith in God from. Only God is truly qualified to steer our lives. Therefore, we should want him on our side. If you'll turn to Jeremiah 29 in verse 11. For all of those who've been to my house, and I think there has, but for the last 10 to 12 years I couldn't even remember. This goes back to Renee putting it up initially and then there's been different versions of it. But in the kitchen is this little scripture that's quoted by the sink. And it's this verse. It's one of the most beautiful verses. Jeremiah 29 verse 11. For I know the thoughts or plans that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. It's a wonderful verse. One of these most encouraging verses in the Bible. God is not only ultimately in charge of whatever we do, but his desire, his intention for us are for good, not for evil. That's a beautiful thought. And that's why our plans improve when we put God first in all our lives, in all of our ways. And that's the knowledge that inspires us to learn more, to study more of how we do things God's way versus doing it our own way when we're facing different situations in life. It's why we should surrender our life to God's omnipotence. And recognize and ask him to help us recognize patterns that we can improve or biblical perspectives that he wants us to have to view life differently. According to the Bible, those who seek counsel are wise. It's the discernment we want, right, to guide us on this best course, the best path to move forward. And God ultimately has the right, God ultimately has the power to decide what happens to us. Doesn't mean he does that for every step and something goes wrong, but we should plan carefully for our future and seek for God's discernment and use it. Okay, so what about if that then means persecution? What if that means struggling? Turn to Psalms 9 verses 7 through 8. Psalms 9, 7 through 8. When David wrote this next verse, context again, he was struggling with the Philistines trying to kill him. He was in threat of his life. Yet he took comfort, he took courage from knowing that God reigns supreme, that God has everything in the world under control. Psalms 9 and verse 7. But the Lord shall endure forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and he shall administer judgment for the people in uprightness. I think this time of year, you know, every four-year cycle we have, this type of year is really important. The perspective should remind us that God reigns supreme over our world today.

No matter who is in leadership, in our government, in our cities, in our schools, in churches, God always reigns from heaven. He rules in righteousness, he judges with equity, and he knows exactly what's going on. Put faith where it needs to be. To gain eternity, we need faith in God. And faith helps us plan for the future by focusing on God, and God alone. Having that right mindset. In the future, things may not go as we planned, but even if that happens, having faith in God will allow us to believe God's plans are still better than our own.

Perspective. Therefore, we should ask God to grant us peace, to trust in his will, even when we cannot understand it. All right, let's move on to another principle. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the storms of life? I absolutely have on many occasions. And it can make you feel paralyzed, right? Paralyzed in fear and start questioning, you can feel stuck not knowing how to move forward. Well, the third perspective principle for life is we should view trials as opportunities for growth. Hard times come to purify us, not to hurt us. We should view trials as opportunities for growth.

Hard times come to purify us, not to hurt us. Turn to Romans 8 verse 18. How do you make it through hard times, like the loss of a spouse or a serious illness? I've been told a painful truth, which I really don't like hearing. It's one of these things but I think there is truth to it. And it's that life's lessons will repeat themselves until we finally learn from them. Sounds like a thing you tell your kids, right? But God allows us to experience low points in life in order to teach us lessons we could learn no other way.

Romans 8 verse 18. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Christianity is hard because it's about putting in practice a set of beliefs and not just holding the beliefs and not living them. Is God a theoretical being in our life or is he the true foundation of our faith and the source of our courage and strength?

I think at times when we're struggling through painful times we can easily see, we can focus on the storms that are around us in our life, right? Instead of the thought that God will see us through the storms and make us stronger if we let him spiritually teach us. Challenges will either break us down or become opportunities to grow us spiritually. The key difference starts in how we view our God. Turn to Philippians 4 and verse 6. Friends, trust me, I fight with this like you all, so I'm speaking with you on this one, not at you, that's for sure. When we focus on God instead of our chaos, things change. It's not easy, right? But it's essential. God wants to be our refuge, wants to be our light in the darkest time. And he tells us throughout the Bible that he's fully able, that he desires to turn our problems on the ground, to turn our desires into growth opportunities. He's able to transform us, even in our bitterness, when we're upset because of hardships or defeats into victories. Paul summarizes this in Philippians 4 and verse 6. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Turn to Psalms 100 and verse 5, and we'll read this as a lead-in to our fourth principle for life. Psalms 100 and verse 5, and I'm going to read this one from the NIV, a new international version. It says, for the Lord is good, his unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. So the point here is all of us fit within this promise that's in that verse, right? There are a whole lot of auls and unfailings in every generation. The fourth principle is this. No matter how crazy things go around us or get around us, we can rest in the faith that Jesus is completely faithful and dependable. No matter how crazy things get around us, or as we would write the script to be, turn to Romans 8 verses 36 through 39. Romans 8, 36 through 39. Perspective is always about the way we choose to face life and the perspective we put when we face life, isn't it? We either realize darkness can reveal light. And as Christians, we're able to be secure in God because of what Jesus has done for us. He gave us a chance to redeem us right through the blood of Christ, and he did that before we ever asked for it, before we even realized we needed God's support. And we can be confident that God's grace won't get us going and then leave us to get by on our own. Again, a silly thought, but if you think about how we question God sometimes, I would argue our actions give that implication as that's kind of what we see happening around us. God didn't only justify us in the past, sustains us in the present, and will deliver us into the future. Romans 8 and verse 36. As it is written, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things, in case you miss the context, this means being killed and set for slaughter. We are more who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor power nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So no matter whatever you're facing at this point in life, embrace joy. If we focus on God's blessing, if we focus on his role in our lives, then that becomes easier. Even unfairness, you know, the little kid does not fair. Even unfairness can be a difficult, I mean, can be a difficulty that can be converted into joy when we allow God to work in our lives through it. Because we're learning from it.

Fill your life with love and gratitude for God. Let's go to the next perspective principle for life. And that is, God hasn't promised life will be without difficulties, but he has promised he will be with us through the difficulties. God hasn't promised life will be without difficulties.

But he has promised he will be with us through the difficulties.

We all face these times in life that are just where there's yuck, right? Where there's yuck in life that we either have to endure, we have to accept, we have to move forward through. These are the the UGG moments, right? Just the UGG moments in our lives. I remember when Renee was fighting cancer, and there were several times when she was really low, when she'd be hit by either a health complication or a new awareness of something that had happened, and she would say, just give me a couple seconds for a pity party and to cry, and then I'll be ready and we'll move over and we'll face whatever's in front. We all have to choose not to get stuck obsessing on the ICH, on the YUCK, the UGG moments in our life. God wants us to have an understanding that He will be with us as we go through the ups and go through the downs.

Turn to 1 Peter 4 and verse 12 through 16. 1 Peter 4, 12 through 16. The Bible, in a whole lot of areas, talks about people and Christians suffering for their beliefs in Christ, right? There are a lot of stories that are told about people facing challenges, right, in defense of what they believe. And I think all of us at different times will face that, whether it's at our jobs, whether it's the young people at school, whether it's just when we're out in public in general. Trying to stand up for the right thing can lead to negative reactions. It can lead to difficulties which will follow it. But Peter is pointing out in this verse that there are blessings that accompany when this happens. 1 Peter 4, starting in verse 12. Beloved, do not think it strange, concerning the fiery trials which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this manner. So, if we are suffering as a result of situations that require us to display our faithfulness, then take solace and gain perspective knowing Peter said this is the exact times that we display God's glory. Not always the easiest thing to do, but that's the perspective that God wants us to have. You remember the story of Joseph, right? Joseph's story is this fascinating one where 13 long, painful years—you talk about slow years, those had to be 13 years, it felt like 30—he suffered from being kidnapped, sold as a slave, falsely imprisoned, right? And then nine years after that, after becoming the next in power to Pharaoh, he met his brothers again in Egypt. Seven good years, two bad years, nine years. And after all that time, when he met his brothers, he shared the spiritual perspective that God had taught him through all this. In Genesis 15, verse 20, he says, you intended it for evil, but God intended it for good.

You intended it for evil, but God intended it for good. What will help us more than anything is understanding that God is present in all things for our good and for our glory. And for, I should say, for His glory. That doesn't mean it's not hard in the moment. That doesn't mean it's not super hard. But perspective. And obviously, we shouldn't run around going and seeking suffering. That would be kind of weird. But we should be honest enough to accept that trials are going to come, and difficulties will have to be faced. So is that the moment we get to deny God? No.

Those should be the times where our spiritual perspective allows us to recognize that God is still there. We thank God for His faithfulness, even in the midst of affliction. Again, not easy. Turn to Matthew 10, verse 29 through 30. Matthew 10, 29 through 30. One of the like in Paul's life, he certainly suffered more for a longer period than most anyone I can think of.

Yeah, I don't know how you compare that in the Bible, but I mean, for the length of time of what all he suffered and went through, it's mind-boggling. Did he fall into anxiety and bitterness and anger? No. What the Bible shows is he took encouragement from things that Christ wrote and told him, just like this. Matthew 10, verse 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your father's will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. In other words, instead of dwelling on negativity, we can choose to look for God's hands at work in us. We can seek his wisdom. We could seek guidance.

And what this does, it doesn't take away the ick sometimes, but it changes our perspective and helps us find peace in the midst of chaos. It'll help us have strength in times of weakness and hope. Even when circumstances seem really, really dire, they're not going according to our script. Perspective is all about aligning our thoughts with God's truth and relying on his strength to navigate through life's challenges. Turn to 1 John 3, verse 20. 1 John 3, verse 20. See, it's in these moments where our trust is wavering that I would argue we're being shaped the most. We need to declare that God has got it. God has got this. And again, I'll confess, much easier to say than do. But that's the learnings. 1 John 3, verse 20. For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things, literally everything. The verse is all about the perspective that in standing call and trust in God's wisdom and his guidance. And that shifts our perspective. Okay, next perspective lesson. You can start scribbling down the long sentence coming from Dan. It's actually my shortest one, so there you go. The next perspective principle for life is, it's in our weaknesses that we're reminded God is our strength. This is that we're reminded God is our strength. If you'll turn to Psalms 73 and verse 26. Psalm 73 and verse 26. It's awful when you feel helpless in life, isn't it? None of us like feeling weak or feeling limited. We feel helpless. The reality is, these are the times in life when we most recognize our hopelessness without God. It's intentional. It's when our perspective is shaped the most. I'm going to read this next verse to you from the New Living Translation. Psalm 73 verse 26. My health may fail, and my God remains the strength of my heart. He is mine forever. See, it's this perspective thing. It's this wonderful reminder that God is always our strength. Another quote I read that I enjoyed said, never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future. No matter how we feel of what's going on in our lives, God is with us. And that's something that should encourage us. Because our God is very personally interested in us and able to support us through every season of our lives. God is faithful, and He wants to provide the strength we need at the weakest moments in our life. And that strength is often provided when we recognize our weaknesses. I would argue that's why the timing of this always is near icks and ouchs. Because we have to realize that weakness, and sometimes it's like you're resting a kid, like you're going to give yet, no not yet, all right, you're going to give yet, no not yet, all right, I give, I give, I give. I think there's a bit of that that takes place. If you'll turn to 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 9, 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 9, God has always supplied enough of what I need when I needed it.

That certainly was not always my perspective in the moment. In the moment, I would argue that God certainly did not wait a minute or a second too soon. You know, I was like, really God, please, please, please, please, please, please. But in hindsight, I also saw that it was never a minute too late.

I guess the lesson is that we serve an on-time God, and He longs to be the strength of our heart, and He knows when our most teachable moment is, which is often way past where we think our point is because we have to accept our weaknesses, right? We have to be vulnerable enough in that cross-section of helplessness and desperation to say, okay, God, what are you teaching me? And to have it stick. That's why we reflect back on points in our life. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 9 says, and He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly, I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. God provides enough grace for each day. Each time we face trials, God is always faithful. He provides enough grace for that day. We may question that at times because we want to feel something different, but it's not that He isn't providing the amount of support we need. So if and when we're feeling weak and broken down, we should stand firm believing that God will see us through.

This is less about sufficiency, right? Us feeling insufficient helps us realize God's sufficiency.

But so often, I argue, we get ourselves in a knot along those lines. I can feel, there's a ton of times where, especially after Renee's death as a single parent, I felt totally helpless, insufficient, time after time.

But God showed me time and time again that He saw me, that He was there to help. Sometimes it'd have to be after a bumpy road, and the same is there for you. God sees you too. Turn to 1 Peter 5 and verse 7. 1 Peter 5 and verse 7.

Points of pain in our life make us recognize a power that's available to us, but it's not from our own strength. I think that's the point that God's wanting us to learn. We need to clarify or have that clarity and perspective. Otherwise, we can think it's our own strength, right, that we're leaning on, that we're trusting in. That's why I think God takes us to those points of ick, sometimes, and helplessness to reach out to Him. 1 Peter 5 and verse 7. Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. Oh, big word!

We're to cast all our cares on God, and God is able far above what we know, what we expect, what we understand. A person named Bob Jones wrote one of those challenging faith concepts. Mr. Graham mentioned this, I think, 12-14 years. I wrote it down, and every time I think on it, it's one of those, I agree with it, I get it, and wow, it's just scary to think about. What he wrote is, don't ask God to give you a light burden. Ask Him to give you a strong shoulders to carry a heavy load.

Isn't that one of those, yes, but, yes, but, uh, don't ask God to give you a light burden. Ask Him to give you a strong, to give you strong shoulders to carry a heavy load. If you'll turn to Isaiah 40 and verse 31, the point that He was making is the depth of a Christian can be seen by whether they ask God for light burdens or a strong back.

Instead of viewing life through the lens of our human weaknesses, right, because that's the reason we we groan at that concept. We should pray to become the person God would like us to be tomorrow, next year, five years from now, and we don't know what that's going to be. So that's where the strong shoulders can come that we can't envision potentially having, having along the way. We need to follow the right path, not just the ones that give us physical success, but the ones where God has in mind for our eternal future. And that's about perspective, right?

It's about looking and trusting God through all the times, praying for the habits that you want God to help you break, the talents that you'll learn through the process, and the blessings you'll receive as a result. Isaiah 40 and verse 31 says, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be wary. They shall walk and not faint. All right, next perspective, principle for life. Long one again, sorry. The future is as bright as the promises of God. We should see beyond the present and focus on the eternal where our true hope is. The future is as bright as the promises of God. We should see beyond the present and focus on the eternal where our true hope is. Turn to 2 Corinthians 4 verses 14 through 18. 2 Corinthians 4 for 14 through 18. See, this contrast we need to evaluate our own priorities, our own perspectives, is to evaluate whether we're looking at the troubles that we face.

Is that what we're doing? Are we focusing on what we see, what we feel, or whether we fix our gaze on future things that we cannot see? Which is a whole lot harder, right? Because the other thing is right in front of you. It's right there. 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 14. Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to a balance of the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Beautiful perspective.

Our troubles won't last very long, this verse says. But then it kind of alludes, though that might mean for all of our lifetime.

Perspective. Yet how we... I'd argue that's the mindset that we see in David, in so many of his writings, which is why the Psalms are encouraging, but also he tells the ouch of going through that, right? David processes. You could just go through his processing. He's going through the emotional ups and downs, but then he comes back to the core. I'll read this one from the NIV. Psalms 1, 1950. It says, This is my comfort and affliction, has given me life.

Our current troubles are real. They're very, very real. But we don't have to fix our eyes on them. Instead, we can find strength and encouragement by focusing on all that is coming and that God has ahead of us. Now, I could have as... we could spend a month reading promises of God, and we don't have that amount of time. So I'm only going to turn to one. If you'll turn to 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 7, we will kind of go to our summary of our end goal. But changing our perspective as Christians means shifting our focus from our problems. That's the core of what this lesson is all about. It involves seeing our situation through the lens of faith, and that frames all the other parts. 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 17, Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall all... That's the goal, right? That's the end goal of it all. This key perspective to frame our ups and downs in life is being assured God is more interested in our future than we are. Why would I say that? Because He gave His life for us. Again, He gave His life for us before we even realized why we were born, what His calling was.

God longs deeply for us to always be in His presence. That's why He created this universe. It's the story behind all of existence. And when Christ returns, it's going to be this amazing time.

John says that when God appears, we will be like Him. We don't even know what that means exactly. There's no... whatever we think, it'll blow it away in reality, right? Nothing will be able to separate us from Him forever. All of these concepts are the things to give us hope and strength along the way, and know that God is excitedly waiting and preparing a home for us.

That's the stuff to help us in these icky moments that we face. And we know from Scripture that God has planned this from before creation began. That, again, is one of these concepts that I can't wrap my head around. But it's inspiring, and it should inspire us to hold fast to God with this unwavering faith, knowing what God says and promises is true. And therefore, we don't need to just focus, just, on our physical, on our present, but also on the eternal spiritual realm. Because we will face what's in front of us. Obviously, we have to put our mind there as well. Let's go to my final perspective principle, and this is my longest. Again, I apologize, but I can read it to you a few times, and nothing else should get the point of it.

It's hard for us as humans to let God be God. It's hard for us at times to let God be God.

If we truly believe God is God and can do anything, we should praise more, pray more, and complain less. It's hard for us at times to let God be God. If we truly believe God is God and truly believe that God can do anything, then we should praise more, pray more, and complain less.

Hebrews 13 and verse 8 is a very well-known verse. It says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, today, and forever. So, the fact that Jesus never gave up his life, the fact that Jesus never changes, is a promise. It's a promise that we can take to heart. So, no matter how crazy things might be going in our lives, we can rest in the fact that Jesus Christ is completely faithful. He is completely dependable. Turn to James 1 and verse 17. James 1 and verse 17. Another encouraging quote I read said, God can bring peace to your past, purpose to your present, and hope to your future. There's all sorts of unquotes out there when you start putting in the right perspective views on life, and boom, the internet has fun with those. James 1 and verse 17.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Don't you love it when somebody gives you a gift? Even if it's one of those mundane, odd things you'll probably never use, there's still something that touches your heart that somebody gave you a gift. They thought that much of you. But what this says is that what God wants to give you is every good and every perfect gift. That's what he wants to give us. We don't even understand what perfect would look like. Good enough would be good. But he wants deeply to do this. He wants to give us good gifts that are perfect for where you are at, for the situation where you're going through, what's in your heart, and where he wants you to go.

That's what we're being told. Turn to Matthew 7 verses 9 through 11. Matthew 7, 9 through 11. There are so many things that God wants to give us. And there's things we deserve for Him to give us, right? We know that we deserve death and punishment for all the mistakes that we make along the way. We've earned that. But He only wants to give us the good and the perfect things. That's encouraging. And in this next verse, Jesus is using an example of few that we can connect with as human parents to show us how much greater His love for us is. Matthew 7 and verse 9. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? So, again, perspective is about how we view life, right? The future can, and probably will, be frightening at different times. And we're going to feel pressure trying to figure it out. And that's part of the journey. And in the middle of this pressure to arrange everything, to get our lives perfected, God reminds us that He's in charge. That He cares. And that God will not lead any of us for a short period of time and then kind of abandon us. That's not how it works. God will never abandon you. So, so forget about the worries and confusions that the world tries to tell you about. And instead, focus on the Lord who has you in His hands and is ready to guide and help you and me toward the eternal future. Doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Doesn't mean it's pain-free along the way, but that's the perspective that He wants us to have.

Turn to Isaiah 41 in verse 10. Isaiah 41 in verse 10. So, both the verses we just read recently from James and Matthew kind of underscore this concept that God wants to give us good gifts. Gifts that will help us with what we need. And God takes His time, which is comforting in an ouch thing all at the same time, right? He's never in a hurry. He knows the perfect timing to give us those gifts, which may come with us learning things through what is also promised or tribulations and trials and ouch ick points in life. But at the end of the day, they're always going to be good and perfect gifts. And that perspective should comfort us and uplift us when we feel this uncertainty, because we're going to. It's just very natural. Isaiah 41 in verse 10. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my right hand. It's beautiful. And we know that God planned ahead and sent His Son to die for our sins. That's evidence that that's true. And that act shows His great ability to see the future, to solve problems that we didn't even know existed. We didn't know the need that that had to happen. And without God, we would not be alive. We would not be able to reach eternity. Perspective, right? Perspective helps us to not get stuck in in the past.

But trust that God is there to help us through our past, through the present, through the future, and of the path He hopes for us. But He even has a path He's prepared and willing to lead us down when we go astray. God is not finished with us. And that's the perspective to help us with. I hope today's message has helped encourage you with a biblical perspective, struggles, as well as wonderful blessings. Things can sometimes be difficult, right? God is our hope for our future, and He promises to provide His disciples with eternal future. So ask God for discernment, for assistance to align with, to trust in His plan. As I finally read 3 and verse 22, Psalm 33 verse 22, I'd summarize it as saying God wants us to have Him at the center of our lives, to strive to please Him, and for us to bear fruit, right? That's a simple summary. In response, God wants us to get to know us in a special way, to influence our local family. That's what it's all about. That's what life is all about. And that's the lasting perspective that really should sustain us and should guide us. I'm going to read this last verse from the New Living Translation. It says, Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.