“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Has a sentence ever jumped off a page and spoken to you? It happened to me while reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Near the end of the story, the main character looked around her hometown. She’d once thought it shabby and sad but now saw its potential. She said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see.”
When I read this sentence I felt God’s Spirit speaking to me, showing me my misguided perception wasn’t about seeing physical things, but how I perceive people’s motives. You see, because of my abusive childhood, I’ve perceived judgment and rejection even when it wasn’t there. Consequently, I’ve ruined relationships by acting defensively or running away. Despite being a Christian for years, this fight or flight reaction had become an ugly, ungodly pattern of behavior.
A skewed perspective can also make our problems seem worse than they are. A pebble appears huge when viewed up close. But when viewed from a distance, it looks small. Similarly, while we perceive our difficulties as insurmountable boulders, even mountains, God sees them as mere pebbles on our path. God even tells us, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8, NIV)
Perspective can cloud our judgment, but we can seek a Godly perspective about people, places, and problems in life. We can seek God’s perspective about our identity based on the truth of God’s Word, rather than what others say, do, or even how we think they value us. The Bible says that as Jesus’ believers, we are deeply loved, fully forgiven, righteous children of God. (Ephesians 2:4, Galatians 3:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
We can pray for Godly perspective when we face trouble. God uses the seemingly bad for good purposes. Through trials, God will help us become a stronger person. (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2–4) We can rest assured God always has good plans and purposes for those He loves. (Romans 8:28)
But most importantly, we can see people through God’s eyes and love one another rather than judging their thoughts and actions (John 13:34). If we see them as broken, hurting people in need of a savior, then we can become vessels, pouring out God’s love, compassion, and mercy.
Dear Father God, Please protect my mind from skewed human perceptions distorting my reality. When I cannot understand, please help me have faith, trusting you have perfect plans for my life. But most importantly, please help me see others through your eyes of love so I may love and bless them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Further Study:
Bible Verses about God’s Perspective
