I was walking through the yard with our Brittany Spaniel, Pierre, when I
spotted a cat nearby. When I was several yards away, I could see the cat
clearly, but because of a privacy fence, the closer I moved, the
blurrier was my view of the cat. I thought, "That's how we are about
situations in our lives. Sometimes when we are in the middle of
something, we lose our perspective, and we need to try to step back and
see it from afar." We become focused on a detail or we feel "stuck" and
cannot see our way out. What are some steps we can take in difficult
situations, to retain or recover our perspective?


First, we can pray. God wants to give us wisdom. Sometimes we have this
idea that He make things cryptic, but in actuality His word says that He
is generous with His wisdom.


James 1:5 (NNAS) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who
gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to
him.
In addition, it is often a wise idea to bounce thoughts or ideas off a
mature Christian friend.


Prov 15:22-23 (NNAS) Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But
with many counselors they succeed. A man has joy in an apt answer, And
how delightful is a timely word!


Have you ever noticed that it can be easier to solve the problem of a
friend, than one of your own? We sometimes are too close to a situation
to see it clearly. A third step that has at times helped me, is to
think: "What would I say to someone else in this situation?" Sometimes
asking ourselves that simple question will bring a surprisingly clear
answer.


A fourth and vital step: I have said in previous devotionals, that if we
ask God to help us view people (especially "difficult ones") through His
eyes, it can revolutionize relationships. This principle applies to
decisions and stressful situations also.


The next time you feel hopeless, or you simply cannot seem to find an
answer with which you are at peace, I hope you will pray for God's
wisdom and perspective, ask Christian friends for advice, and think
about it "from the outside."