The Difference Between God’s Perspective and Our Perspective

 In Blog, Pam Cavanaugh

Human perspective is like being on a submarine. All is underwater and if you look out the window, all you see is blackness. God’s perspective sees beyond what we see. We can compare His perspective to a periscope. He sees where the submarine has been and where it is going. He is not limited in his perspective as we are. Romans 3:8 says … “All things work together for good to them that love God to them which are called according to his purpose.”

 

I used to cross-stitch a lot. If I showed you the wrong side of the cross-stich, it would be compared to our perspective of life. There seems to be no pattern to the underside of the sewing. But if I turn the stitching over, we see God’s perspective is much larger.

 

Just as we can now see the design of the threads, God can always see how the circumstances and difficulties of our lives work together to conform us to His image. God is doing the stitching! Aren’t we glad! Psalm 139:16 says… “Thine eye did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.”

 

If I pick up binoculars and look through the wrong end, there is no focus because everything is so far away. I’m afraid most of the time in my life it’s like I am looking through the wrong end of the binoculars. Ever had days like that? But, when I do it God’s way and look through the correct end, things come into focus and God brings things right up to me! Romans 8:24-25 says “For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

 

I think the reason I love Esther in the Bible so much is not that she was so beautiful and charming that the king chose her. It is not that she was clever in the way she got what she wanted out of the king, by wearing her best gown and standing in the right light. She could be passed off as just another dizzy dame… If it weren’t for those 5 little words “If I perish,” “I perish.” That’s when Esther expressed her magnificence! Esther had no idea what God was going to use her for. All she knew to do up until that time was to be a woman – the best woman she knew how to be. Perhaps she didn’t even know she had it in her to say, “If I perish,” “I perish.” I think women in their frantic search for self-fulfillment and identity today is a failure to stop and look at God’s overall plan for their lives as women.

 

Perspective changes both our view and our attitudes. A writer, Marilee Horton, says: “I must accept the limitations that are forming me into what God called me to be.” My limitations may be mundane, not glamorous or noble – something a maid could do. I must commit myself to look at the opportunities and limitations of family, home, washing, cleaning, illness, etc. and see them as the sun, rain and food that will grow me into what the Lord has designed me to be. We must not become women who have lost the overall perspective of God’s plan and are looking for significance rather than magnificence. Sometimes we may not see the whole picture until we are in eternity. I think of Mary, mother of Jesus, who said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” Little did she know that in that moment of her magnificence that she would watch the Lord die on a cross a cruel death. Now that she is in eternity, I am sure she sees the whole plan of God.

 

There are many stages and deaths in the life of a tree and in the life of a woman. Each death gives was to a resurrection of a new life, periods when we can start over. Thank heaven for the starting overs.

 

In John 20:3-8, “Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple [believed to be John], and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came to the sepulcher. And he stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet he did not go in.” The word used here means “to see with his eyes”, notice, just to see. “Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lying [there].” The word “seeth” here means, he saw and paid attention to. “And the napkin [cloth], that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.” The word saw here has a different meaning. It means understanding. When Peter went into the tomb His perspective was from a human perspective. But, when the other disciple looked and saw again he had a Biblical perspective! I like to call it an ahh-ha moment!

 

The perspective was biblical and spiritual because the next verse says “For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” The perspective was understanding who Christ was. The Messiah, the Savior, the bigger picture!

 

Now I take that cross-stitch picture on the beautiful patterned side and put in in a frame. God wants to take us and frame us in His word and make us a beautiful design for His glory as godly women.

 

The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian. But the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God’s idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to him of all that I am and all that he wants me to be. – Elisabeth Elliot.

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Showing 5 comments
  • Tiffany

    Great thoughts –the word pictures really help give me a better understanding of what you’re getting at. Thanks for sharing!

  • Emily Kromminga

    Pam, what an encouragement this was to me! Thank you for sharing your heart. This was used by God with truly perfect timing. Your words have been used mightily by God and I just wanted to let you know. Blessings to you!

  • Pamela Cavanaugh

    thank you Emily, that encourages my heart! Love ya

  • Pamela Cavanaugh

    Thanks for letting me know Tiffany, I appreciate your encouragement! Blessings to you too!

  • Glenroy steele

    Good analysis Pam. I think you have been rightly
    positioned for such a time as this. Too many of us been trying to live our lives based on man’s perspective; humanistic ideas, work very hard to please man. as well being pretentious,taking on false identity in order to be accepted by in society.However,you have help us to understand the difference between both school of thought. when we live our lives based on God’s perspective we will experience true fulfillment in life. Great post.

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