OverwhelmedSample

It’s A Matter Of Perspective

Having the right perspective is key to overcoming what fights to overwhelm you.

There may be circumstances that you are experiencing where you may have felt like you got sucker-punched without expecting it. You were blindsided by the enemy’s schemes to tempt you, harass you, taunt you, and belittle you. Like the Israelites, you feel afraid and powerless. The strength of what is overwhelming you has put you in the “this is impossible” perspective.

David was a shepherd and a young man who loved God. His father told him to go bring some food to his brothers who were encamped on the mountainside. As David approached his brothers, he saw and heard this giant spew curses and threats against the Israelites. David witnessed for himself this man who was hungry to overwhelm, kill and utterly defeat.

The men of Israel and David had seen and heard the same giant. They witnessed the same problem. They were experiencing the same trial, but they had completely different perspectives. King Saul and the men of war saw the impossibility, so they ran from Goliath. David saw what was possible, so he wanted to fight and eventually ran towards Goliath. Same problem, different perspective.

We see this in Numbers 13 when God commanded Moses to send out 12 men to spy out the promised land that God was giving them to possess. Each man came back with the same report: the land flowed with milk and honey, the fruit of the land was big and plentiful, and there were giants in the land. Ten men gave a negative report because they were overwhelmed by the giants. Two men, Joshua and Caleb, gave a good report despite the giants. They both saw what the other ten men had seen, but they saw the possibility before them because of God’s promise and presence. Numbers 13:33 reveals why the ten men gave a negative report: their perspective was they were grasshoppers compared to the giants. On the contrary, Joshua and Caleb believed the giants were grasshoppers compared to God. Same problem, different perspective.

When you compare yourself to the challenge, to the addiction, to the trial, to the satanic attack, or to the mountain, you will always be overwhelmed.

When you compare your giant to Almighty God, your perspective changes and that which tries to overwhelm you will be overwhelmed by the God of the impossible. Luke 1:37 says, “with God all things are possible.” Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Zechariah 4:6 says “it’s not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord.” Mark 10:27 says, “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Put your focus on the Lord. May His love that never fails and His awesome presence overwhelm you with joy, peace, and great faith! Be like Caleb who said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Be like David who said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32).

Keep the right perspective that all things are possible, only with God! You will not be overwhelmed!