God's Perspective

Oswald Chambers wrote,

“The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him. We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be.”

Busy for Busyness Sake

We live in a time in which we are busier than ever before. A time in which we can feel less valuable if we are not constantly “busy” doing something — in which stillness with God is almost non-existent. It's a culture in which constant worry and fear about money, career, kids, and our future outweigh peace, quiet, and contentment.

But God’s word promises something very different,

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” — John 14:27

Change in View

Have you ever been to New York City? If you have, you know that it really is the “city that never sleeps.” When I visited a number of years back for the very first time, I realized that when you are down on the street, in the busiest parts of Manhattan, you can become overwhelmed by the chaos. The cars, the people, the horns, the music, the colors, the lights… you get the idea. Down on the street everything it seems is clamoring for your attention, drawing you away, distracting you. But in the air — at the top of the Empire State Building — everything seemed different. As I looked down there was silence, a peace even. I saw the colorful cars moving in what seemed to be a pattern; the lights flashing in beautiful concert, no yelling, no honking — just quiet. And although the time between the street and the top was 30 minutes, the perspective was eternal.

I have since thought that this is often what our lives are like. We live in the crazy streets of life — the noise, the distractions, the chaos, pulling us away. Our perspective is that on the streets. But when we begin to look at things the way God sees them — from above — His perspective changes everything. There is a calm, a peace.

Philippians 4:7 says: 

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What about you? Are you already feeling the chaos of the school year and holiday season? Are you looking at things from the “street?” Let’s pray for His perspective. Where even amidst the hustle and bustle of life there is peace — His peace. Ask Him for it. You will get it…He’s promised it. 

Steve Kyle is the Director of Christian Life at Mount Paran Christian School. 

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