Perspective: (n) a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view

Upon checking into our hotel room, my daughter’s perspective shown brightly when she exclaimed, “Hey, we could live here! It’s nice and decent sized, has good wifi and air conditioning.” After looking around, I somewhat agreed and we realized the comedy of it. We had been moving around so much and for so long that now a hotel room looked appealing as a place to settle down. From that point on, we compared locations along our transition and pointed out the positive points of each place. When we finally did reach the final destination and moved in, actually unpacked our suitcases and even hung up some things on the wall kind of moving in, we highlighted the positives. “We have doors!” “There are two actual bedrooms!” “We have two sinks in the bathroom!” and other details even despite the size and little inconveniences of the place. Perspective.

In the midst of transition, often times, a little perspective goes a long way. In the middle of all the changes, the muck and mire of details, the inconveniences, and feeling of instability in it all, there can still be glimpses of joy, hope, fun, and if anything, laughter. Although it can be hard to see at the time, there is good in it. It just takes a bit longer to be noticed. It takes a change in perspective.

The perspective that Jesus had for those that followed Him was honest and true. He knew what was to come and it would be difficult. He actually said, “in me you will have peace. In this world you will have many troubles.” Times of transition always feel like a full load of troubles. There is much to look forward to, but sometimes the logistics, the instability, and the adjustments are overwhelming and we lose sight.  Look at what He said again. His initial statement, “in me you will have peace.” He makes it a point to emphasize that we will have peace in Him. Then He mentions we will have troubles. He gives the solution and perspective before He gives the warning of what lies ahead. Then he backs it up even more with the last part of the Scripture, “But take heart, I have overcome the world.” What amazing perspective we can have if we look at each step of transition and each trial with this truth in our hearts!

This is not the only place where the One who gives us an eternal perspective promises that we can walk the rough waters of transition with hope and peace.

• Mark 10:30 He promised that “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age…and in the age to come, eternal life.”           
• Psalm 84:3 “Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
• Matthew 7: 7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you….Or which one of you , if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?…If you then, who are 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!”
• Matthew 6:25-34 addresses anxiety and how the heavenly Father provides for the things we need.
• Luke 12:22-31 addresses anxiety again but ends with “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.”  

There are so many more. They all promise the same thing, “I got you!” He knows exactly what we need during this crucial time. He is fully aware of the nuances and details. He knows our physical needs, the emotional ones, and our spiritual needs. If we adjust our focus and try to see things from His perspective, it can shift the atmosphere, our attitudes, and our way of looking at the situation. His perspective shows joy and hope, faith and love. If we change our perspective to reflect His, the difficulties of transition seem small in comparison, and we can begin to be thankful for the little things like doors and the fact that we can finally unpack and put the suitcases away.