From God's Point of View
There is a sentence Jesus spoke to Peter that has stayed with me this week: “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's.” (Matthew 16:23)
Peter loved Jesus. He had just made the extraordinary confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Yet when Jesus began explaining that the road ahead would include suffering, rejection, death, and ultimately resurrection, Peter couldn't accept it. From Peter's point of view, this couldn't possibly be God's plan.
Peter could see the cross. He couldn't yet see resurrection.
How often do we do the same thing?
We look at something happening in our family, our church, our country, or our world and assume that what we can presently see is the whole story. A door closes. A prayer remains unanswered. Someone we love struggles. Plans change. The future becomes uncertain. Fear begins filling in the blanks, and before long we've decided what everything means.
But what if we don't yet see everything God sees?
This theme runs through our Scriptures. Moses tells Israel that they need “minds that understand, eyes that see and ears that hear” (Deuteronomy 29:4). Jesus later asks his disciples essentially the same question: Do you still not see or understand?
The problem wasn't that they hadn't witnessed God at work. They had! They simply had difficulty interpreting what they were seeing from God's point of view.
That is part of what prayer does in us.
Prayer isn't simply trying to convince God to see things from our point of view. Prayer gradually teaches us to see our lives from God's point of view.
This week's ancient prayers have reminded us to pray God's promises boldly, to grow in confidence, to allow even our tears to become prayers, to remember God's name and nature, and even to tell our problems about God.
I love that.
There are certainly times when we need to tell God how big our problems are. But there are also times when our souls need to tell our problems how big our God is.
We remember what has already been revealed.
God is faithful.
God is loving.
God is present.
God knows us completely.
God is our Rock.
God is with us wherever we go.
Jesus has died.
Jesus has risen.
And Jesus is still leading us.
We may not know everything God is doing, but we know something about the God who is doing it.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”
We don't have to understand everything in order to trust God with the next faithful step.
And perhaps that is why Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30 are so tender: “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Jesus later describes that life in surprising terms: give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Don't gain the whole world and lose your soul. Don't cling so tightly to your life that you miss the life God is giving you.
The invitation is not to understand everything.
The invitation is to follow Jesus.
And sometimes following Jesus begins with a very simple prayer:
Jesus, help me see what You see.
Peace,
Pastor T
Spiritual Practice — Write a Blessing
This week, choose one person God has placed on your heart. It might be your child or grandchild, your spouse, a friend, someone from Eden, or even someone you're presently worried about.
Before you pray about what you fear for them, spend a few moments asking:
“God, how do You see this person?”
Then open your Bible and write a short blessing over them using the promises and truths of Scripture.
You might pray:
May God give you a mind that understands, eyes that see, and ears that hear.
May you know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
May you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
May God's Word remain close to you—on your lips and in your heart.
May you be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
May you choose life.
May you build your life upon the Rock.
May you know Jesus, follow Jesus, and discover the life that is truly life.
Keep the blessing somewhere you will see it this week and pray it each day. If appropriate, give or send the blessing to the person you wrote it for.
Instead of allowing fear to write their future, practice praying over them from God's point of view.
Gather — Questions for Reflection
Where in my life am I most tempted right now to see things only from a human point of view?
What has God already revealed in Scripture about His character that I need to remember in this situation?
Who might God be inviting me to see differently—not through my fears, frustrations, or expectations, but through the eyes of Jesus?
Prayer:Lord, give us minds that understand, eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that trust You. When our vision becomes narrowed by fear, disappointment, or uncertainty, remind us of what You have already revealed. Teach us to see ourselves, one another, Your Church, and our world through the eyes of Jesus. Give us courage to choose life, take up our cross, and follow You. Amen.
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