I once picked up a cross-stitch canvas on which my talented sister had been working for hours. For a brief moment, I was shocked to see that it was a mess of knots, loose strings, and distorted stitches. Then, I realized that I had been looking at the back of the canvas. Upon flipping the canvas around, I saw the beautiful, orderly picture she had been stitching. The canvas, of course, had remained the same; I had only changed my perspective of it.
It is all too easy to look at our own lives and see a mess of knots, loose strings, and distorted stitches. When we see this, we might need a change in perspective. Here are a few ways in which we might change our view:
Look back. Psalm 40:5 says, Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Remember all of the ways that God has provided for us in the past! Remember the mountaintop experiences that God has given us and know that He will bring us to that place again. Remember the valleys He has brought us through and know that He will bring us through again.
Look forward. II Corinthians 4:17 reminds us For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; These trials that burden us on this earth will be forgotten when we reach the shores of Heaven.
Look up. Hebrews 12:1a states, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us…run with patience the race that is set before us, Think of the great cloud of witnesses in Heaven watching us. Think of the great heroes of the faith looking down upon us. Think of our friends and family members who have gone before us. Be comforted in the knowledge that they are cheering for us.
Look around. Philippians 2:4 commands us, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Think of those who have far greater trials than we do and focus on offering help and encouragement to them. We will soon find that we are more able to bear the burdens God has given us.
Finally, remember that God in Heaven is looking down upon us. While we see our lives as the back of a cross stitch canvas, God sees the beautiful picture He has “stitched” us to be. No matter how messy our lives may seem, know that God works all things for good.
by Abigail Medford
