Perspective In The Valley Sample

Who? Me?

For some reason, I find the most difficult life to assess to be mine. It’s strange. The person I know the most. The one I spend the most time around. Yet, I seem to be the most elusive mystery I’ve come across.

In Romans 7:15 Paul says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Paul doesn’t want to sin. He hates that he sins. He wants to do right. But he doesn’t. And, more importantly, he doesn’t really understand why he’s doing what he doesn’t even want to do–even what he hates. But the verse continues to say, “So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.”

The truth of our life can be so complicated that we are not sure what to make of it. Perhaps we are overwhelmed with data or busyness that adds to our confusion. Nevertheless, the bottom line, as Paul put it, is that we need God. There are nine “I’s” in these two verses, which tells us “Me” is not the answer. We don’t even understand why we do what we do. So more of our perspective isn’t the answer. We need more of God’s perspective. He can give us truth and love in our life through the valley, to gain a godly, and truer self-perspective. 

There are times we can make a lot of assumptions. Blindly accept a lot of our own biases. Truth is so difficult to determine within ourselves because we assume it is already there. When I am meeting with others, it is easier to see their blind spots. Sometimes painfully easy. We see how people’s experiences have shaped their worldview. But somehow, our own just seem... our own. Normal, or at least unremarkable. 

Self-perspective is an important starting place, but is very difficult to obtain. Transforming our own self-perception is a great challenge. There is more truth out there than we currently know. More self-awareness than we are currently walking in. We need some external help to give us feedback, point to our blind spots, and encourage the better parts of us. I cannot discover truth by myself. Even, and maybe especially, when it comes to myself.

To get more from this plan, read the book Yellow Balloons by Tim Dunn. You can download it from http://www.yellowballoons.net/ in the Downloads area using the passcode: Grace