Getting Things in Perspective
As I am writing this article, I am home and down with yet another back injury. If I am to have surgery again, this would make number seven. You can imagine that this can be frustrating as I have had to deal with this for many years since I was injured while serving in the military. I spent some time this last week throwing a pity party for myself and asking some of the same questions that we all ask at times. For instance, “God, I have so much to do for You. Why did this have to happen now?” And “But God, I am doing Your work. Why did this have to happen to me?” Or “God, will you not heal me quickly, so that I can return to work?” These are some of the same questions that have been asked by Bible characters here and there as well.
As I pondered these questions, I received an email from a missionary friend in Haiti. She was reporting the situation of her school and the churches and pastors with whom she works. Hurricane Laura had flooded the tiny island yet again. The entire country is debilitated by COVID-19 infections and suspicions. Schools are closed until next year. Businesses are closed. Many of these businesses are the sole means of daily food for the families that run them. There is no public bail out or stimulus package for these poorest of the poor. The government sits with electricity and running water while much of the rest of the nation goes without. Students are watching their mostly recital-style education diminish from week to week. Teachers are getting desperate in her school. Suffering seems to be ubiquitous.
When I read that email, I was forced to go back to God and ask His forgiveness for feeling sorry for myself just because I have a sore back.
What is it about is that makes us focus on ourselves when so much hurting is going on around the world? What is it about us that makes us think our problems are so terrible when a person dies every six seconds of starvation while I have plenty of food? What is it about us that causes us to feel sorry for ourselves and our situations when entire families are destroyed in floods, earthquakes, and other catastrophes? The answer hurts me to admit it. It is simple: I am selfish and self-centered. We get blinders on and can only see our little portion of this universe. Is it not good that we have a Savior who sees more than we do? Proverbs 15:3 reminds us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.”
If we want to grow to be more Christlike, maybe we had better be praying for God to open our eyes so we can see as He sees. If you do this, be aware! When God shows you a need, He just might use you to meet it. That is a much better perspective than staring at the mirror and thinking, “poor me.” Take it from someone who is there.