Mud and Stars
Frederick Langbridge said, “Two men look out through the same bars, / one sees the mud and one the stars.” He was talking about perspective. Downcast looks guarantee a view of the mud. It takes an upward look to see the stars.
A cancer survivor spoke of her experience when she asked her doctor for a survival statistic. He said, “Maybe only 10% of patients with your type and stage of cancer are cured, but within that 10%, your odds are 0% or 100%.” Her chances were good, depending on her perspective.
Put any two people in a given situation, no matter how bad it is or good, and they will have a different perspective, despite experiencing the same circumstances. One might think it is the worst thing he has ever been through, while the other may be enjoying himself. Life is subjective, so why not choose to enjoy it?
Of course, we do not want to find joy in bad things, nor do we want to complain about blessings. How do we know the difference? We have to look to God as our standard.
A hopeful, godly perspective is not wishful thinking or being optimistic. It is having faith. People of faith are far more realistic than pessimistic, negative whiners who look for problems in every situation.
How do you develop the perspective of a believer?
1. Study the promises of God in his Word. They are both positive and true. The psalmist says, “Your testimonies … are the joy of my heart” (119:111). God has never let us down. He has kept every promise (Joshua 21:45).
2. Remind yourself that neither you nor anybody else besides God is in control. In the grand scheme of things, God does what is best. We do not always understand what he is up to, but through faith we believe he will work it out. Concerned about the most powerful people on earth conspiring against God for evil, the psalmist chose to look upward and saw that “he who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (Psalm 2:4). It is foolish to think that people can thwart God’s plans.
3. Trust the Lord to take care of the problem. That does not mean neglecting your responsibilities. The Lord may be using you to be part of the solution. But you do not have to control everything. The one who holds the world in the palm of his hand can deliver us.
4. Express gratitude for the blessings. When things go wrong, we often forget the things that are going right. Our minds are tuned to the negative. One bad thing can turn our attention away from 100 good things. Don’t allow a negative attitude to set in. Stay positive. Be grateful.
Are you looking at the mud with the stars? Don’t blame the circumstances. Don’t blame your enemies. Don’t blame God. Your perspective is your choice.
Drew Kizer