Your Perspective Is Everything

Article adapted from this sermon on YouTube

Your Perspective Is Everything

If you're reading this, chances are you've faced—or are facing—a wilderness season in your life. Maybe you're heading into a storm, right in the thick of one, or finally seeing the light as you come out the other side. Whatever it is, I want you to know: there's wisdom for you here. And a lot of it comes down to one simple truth—your perspective is everything.

Let me start with something personal. A few years back, my wife Kelly and I walked through one of the

toughest seasons we've ever faced. It started after the 2008 housing crisis when we discovered our home had toxic Chinese drywall. That stuff was emitting sulfuric acid, and it hit us hard—affecting our central nervous systems, lungs, and eyes. Asthma flared up, allergies went wild, and doctors even thought Kelly might have MS. It all happened so fast.

We had to move out immediately, and what followed was years of real challenge. There were days I honestly wondered if I should keep pastoring—not because I didn't love it or feel called, but because life felt so complicated. I thought maybe someone with less baggage could lead better.

But God carried us through. In that valley, He helped us reorganize our priorities. So many things we'd been chasing weren't wrong—they just weren't essential anymore. You've probably experienced this too: when God delivers you from a battle, you suddenly realize there are things you can travel light without.

My story isn't the point, though. God's Word is full of guidance for our wilderness moments, and that's where the real power lies.

Think about what a wilderness really is: it's a season of God's development when His presence can feel distant and His promises seem uncertain. Have you ever prayed and felt like your words just bounced off the ceiling? Or walked into a worship service feeling so weighed down you couldn't even lift your hands?

If that's you, hear this clearly: God's presence is real, and His promises are rock-solid. He's the constant—we're the ones who shift. So if you're in a wilderness today, reach out and grab His hand. He's trustworthy, and He's more than able to carry you through whatever you're facing.

Now, say this with me (out loud if you can): Perspective is everything.

I'm a fan of Post-it notes—they're handy for marking Scriptures in my Bible or jotting reminders. You can stick a verse on your mirror to start your day remembering God's faithfulness. A Post-it is just a little square of paper. No big deal... until you change your perspective.

Hold one right up to your eye, and it blocks almost everything—even the sun. But pull it back, and it's nothing at all.

That's exactly how our trials can work. Right now, your wilderness might feel like the biggest thing you've ever faced. It could seem like your world is ending, like you're losing dreams, relationships, energy, or joy. You might be asking, "Where did my hope go? What happened to my friends?"

Let me remind you: it's a wilderness. And it's just a wilderness.

Don't let it eclipse God's promises. Don't fixate so hard on the pain that you miss His plan unfolding right in the middle of it.

Try this: hold your hand up in front of your face like you're holding that Post-it, and declare it again—perspective is everything. Pull that challenge back just a bit, and suddenly you see the bigness of God again. You remember this is only a season, not your whole story.

God is developing something beautiful in you. He's faithful to finish what He started. One day, you'll look back and be glad you didn't quit—glad you kept your eyes on Him.

The Israelites knew long wildernesses too. The Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years—a tough but manageable span where people could see both bondage and freedom in one lifetime. But their Egyptian bondage? That was 430 years. Generations lived and died without ever tasting freedom. A new pharaoh came along, saw their growth, and crushed them harder, thinking exhaustion would stop them from multiplying.

Yet God saw. He heard. And He delivered.

Your story might feel long and heavy right now, but the same God is at work in you. Adjust your perspective today. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

He's got you. He's not letting go. And He's going to bring you all the way through.