“Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life.”
Joni Eareckson Tada
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:18)
Who or what are you looking at? Are you looking at the news, a social media post, or someone who seems to have everything you want? How does it make you feel?
If you say, it makes you angry, depressed, or jealous, maybe you need to find something new to watch. I often find that when I am feeling down that I am looking at the wrong things, or I’m looking at them from the wrong perspective.
I have learned that in art, whether painting or writing, that a lot depends on perspective. If you are reading a story through the perspective of a villain, you get a much different story than if you look through the eyes of the victim. Yet, what’s even more interesting is when the so-called victim stops looking at herself as a victim and starts seeing herself as a victor. This shift in perspective changes everything.
Looking at the Giant
“When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”
(1 Samuel 17:11)
The Israelite army was looking up, way up, at a giant of a man, and they were afraid. He offered to settle the war on a one-on-one battle with him, but he had no takers. He made fun of the Israelite army and defies God with insults. All they saw was failure.
It wasn’t the first time the Israelites saw giants. In Numbers 13:33 ten of the twelve spies sent to look at Canaan came back with a negative report: “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.” They saw a land flowing with all kinds of delights, but all they could think was that the enemy was stronger than them.
Looking at God
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
(1 Samuel 17:45)
David, on the other hand, heard the giant defying the Lord God Almighty. He was looking at God, and he knew that God could and would defeat the Philistine because He knew God. He had a history of doing battles in which God had given him the victory.
Caleb, also saw the enemy in Canaan from a different perspective. In Numbers 13:30 Caleb says, “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.” Caleb knew they could overcome the giants because he knew that God was with them. God would give them the victory because He had done it before.
Facing the Giants
When we face giants, we need to look at God and who He is, not at the enemy in front of us. Jesus has already won the victory, and God is the one who fights the battle. He will defeat the giant. We need only to stand firm in faith and watch to see what He will do. So, stop looking at the giant, put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6), and “Turn Your Eyes on Jesus.”
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“Look at God and who He is and not at the enemy in front of us.” Love this, Linda! Your message is one of hope and assurnace of our loving Father’s steadfastness and faithfulness. Thank you.