HOPE always chooses to look up before it looks out or looks in. Jesus in a remarkable verse talking about the chaos of the last times, summarizes how we should respond to the scary news of the end times. He says, “So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation (redemption) is near.” (Luke 21:28)
The rerouting of a heart from hurt to hope always takes place in the refocusing of our heart from ourselves and the circumstances to God who is over, in, and directing the circumstances of the world. When Isaiah was trying to sort out the tremendous uncertainty of King Uzziah’s death after over 50 years of being king, the Bible says “that in the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, High and Lifted up.” This heavenly, beatific vision shifted everything. It took him from an inlook of fear to an outlook of hope.
We have to decide whether we are going to let the power of what we see or the greater power and perspective of who He is dominate our heart. We have to switch the view from earth up to heaven down. I like the story of the little boy who was struggling with a bully who lived next door. He bought a telescope to spy on the bully. One day his Mom caught him looking through the window at the bully through the upside down side of the telescope. His mom asked him why he was looking from the wrong side of the telescope. He said, “O mom the bully looks so much smaller from this end.”
I remember a long night of anxiety over finances. I was in seminary and Sharon was expecting our first child, and I had just lost my job. We were in California and I just didn’t know what to do. I was able to just go to God and be reminded of His promises. I gave thanks for how He had met our needs in the past. I recalled different ways He provided in the Bible. He sent “uber” ravens to Elijah with food to eat. Manna to Israel, a fish with a gold coin in his mouth to Peter. Suddenly peace came over me I saw everything differently. I was looking forward to how God was going to supply. I even wrote my tithe check by faith. Later that next day, I wasn’t looking for a job, but while I was at a park playing basketball someone I didn’t know came up to me and asked me if I needed a job. My uplook led to a new outlook that eventually brought a new breakthrough.
Dale
To watch a short video on the subject, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/HeartfortheWorldChurch/videos/863383264136282/?notif_id=1588610231325386¬if_t=page_post_reaction