3 Questions to Keep a Hope-filled Perspective
Keeping a hope-filled perspective is a challenge when the unexpected happens and we have no control over our circumstances. Fear takes hold in a heartbeat.
Do you sometimes find it difficult to keep a hope-filled perspective when life throws a challenge your way? I do. My thoughts tend to focus on the circumstances and, unless I lasso them pronto, they gallop down a path littered with what-ifs.
Here’s a specific example
My doctor recently diagnosed my right knee with severe arthritis and said I’ll eventually need a knee replacement. My thoughts said, “What if the waiting list for surgery is so long that my pain becomes intolerable before my turn comes?”
“What if knee issues make it impossible to live on the boat any longer?”
“What if we can’t find a suitable place to live within our budget?”
Do you see how my thoughts took me from Point A to Point B in a split second? One moment I’m sitting in my doctor’s office, and the next I’m practically cancelling moorage and arranging a mortgage. I even caught myself thinking about what color paint to use on the walls of my new house. Teal would be nice. Yes, teal with white trim.
Maybe you’ve had a similar experience. Something unexpected happens and whoosh! Your thoughts take off down that what-if trail before you have a chance to say, “Whoa!” Rest assured you’re not the only one reading this and saying, “Yes, yes! I can relate!” It happens to all of us sooner or later.
We choose our perspective
Our thoughts tend to migrate toward the negative. That’s why fear sells well in the media. Keeping a hope-filled perspective is a challenge, then, when the unexpected happens and we have no control over our circumstances. Fear and wrong assumptions take hold in a heartbeat if we let them. This is especially true when those circumstances cause emotional pain, when expectations go unfilled, and prayers go unanswered.
When life brings the unexpected, we get to choose our perspective: we can either focus only on what we see and understand, or we can focus on what we cannot see or understand. The first perspective leads to hopelessness; the latter leads to hope.
Two different perspectives
Luke 8:49-55 provides a great example. I’m including the entire passage here because it illustrates this principle so well. I’ve added the emphasis to show the contrast between two perspectives.
“While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. “
The people in this story focused on the circumstances as they saw and understood them. The ruler’s daughter had died, and it was too late for Jesus to do anything about it.
But Jesus saw things in a different light.
Jesus’ view of the situation begins with the word “but” three times. While the people focused on all things visible, He focused on the invisible—the things seen through eyes of faith.
One focus led to hopelessness. The other led to hope.
3 questions to keep a hope-filled perspective
I suspect most of us resemble the people in this passage. We look at our circumstances and fall into discouragement or fear. Perhaps it’s time to reframe the way we think.
The next time we face a tough situation, let’s ask ourselves these three questions:
- How do I view my circumstances?
- How might Jesus view my circumstances?
- What changes must I make to align my view with Jesus’ perspective?
Let’s choose to focus on more than what we see. Let’s choose to focus instead on the invisible and to view our circumstances through God’s eyes. We all need a hope-filled perspective to survive and thrive when facing tough situations.
May I pray for you?
““Father, You know our tendency to focus on the what-ifs and the negatives. Please make us aware of the direction our thoughts are heading and give us the ability to stop them from taking us down a path headed toward hopelessness. You are our hope, so keep our eyes on You and Your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Know you are loved,
Grace
The news headlines tell us that we’re living in unbelievably chaotic days. My latest devotional books provide biblical hope and encouragement when our minds feel like they’re on overload.
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The news headlines tell us that we’re living in unbelievably chaotic days. My latest devotional books provide biblical hope and encouragement when our minds feel like they’re on overload.
Available wherever Christian books are sold or order your autographed copies here.
What a great reminder! Thank you.
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by and reading today’s post. We all need to be reminded about how easy it is to let our thoughts go where they shouldn’t, and how important it is to rein them into where they belong–under Christ’s control.
Have a great day, and know you are loved,
Grace
I am facing some decisions to make in my life
I did exactly as you did. All the what ifs ?
I’m going to let Jesus stay by my side and help me what route to go
Hi Linda:
Yes, those what-ifs can really throw us into worry and despair. You’ve made the best choice — to stay close to Jesus and ask Him to guide you. He will do that because He is faithful and has your best in mind.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Hi Grace. I needed this today. Our house has sold & today we plan to put an offer in for the one in White Rock. The “what ifs” have plagued Al especially. It has definitely been a spiritual journey! And pray all goes well with your situation!!
Cathy
Hi Cathy! Don’t you love how the Holy Spirit gives us what we need at the right time? Please let me know what happens with your offer. I’m happy for you because it’s been a long journey, but I’m sad to see you go. Praying with you for God’s best outcome re: your offer.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you for this great (and timely) reminder, to return my thoughts and focus to the One who holds my future, and whose plans and purposes are for my good!
Blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda:
You’re welcome, my friend. We all need this reminder at some time or other, right? May we learn to anchor our thoughts in Truth.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Hi Grace;
Between my hubby and I we have had 4 knee replacements.
He was in so much pain with his first one, during recovery and exercises.
When I had mine done I was going for physio therapy to easy the pain and keep mobile.
The last year before surgery I was wearing a knee brace. When time for surgery approached
Physio had me doing exercises before surgery to strengthen the muscles.
He also told me to get back in for physio asap after the surgery so he could release my lower back muscles.
What a difference that made I hardly needed any pain meds during recovery and exercises.
When hubby had his second knee done things went so much easier for him and he didn’t need as much pain medication either.
I tell everyone going for knee surgery to get back to physio as soon as you can to release all the lower back muscles it helps to easy pain and help with the recovery.
Blessings Ann
Praying all goes well.
Hi Ann:
Thanks for sharing your knee journey. My doctor says it will be awhile before he even puts me on the list because I’m still too mobile and he only wants me to have this surgery once in my life. So, to buy time and keep my knee as long as possible, I’ve seen a physiotherapist (who worked wonders in three appointments!), I’m doing the exercises he told me to do, and I got a knee brace last week. The pain level has significantly decreased for now, and I am over-the-moon grateful!
Stay well and strong. Know you are loved,
Grace
Hi Grace! I was reading the other comments and am so happy that your knee seems to be under control for now. I can so relate to your runaway thoughts and feelings. It seems like our faith can disappear in an instant. Thx for the reminder to look at life/circumstances through Jesus’ eyes.
Hi Diana! For sure, looking at circumstances through Christ’s eyes changes the way we see things. Oh, that our first response would be to ask how He sees them so we can align our thoughts with His.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Hi Grace! I was reading the other comments and I’m so happy that your knee seems to be under control for now! I can so relate to your runaway thoughts and feelings. Where does our faith go so quickly? Thx for the reminder to look at life/circumstances through Jesus’ eyes.
Hi Grace,
My word for the year is Hope! I had about a week where that word showed up in the most unlikely places! I knew it was from the Lord.
Your comments were timely.
Thank you,
Colleen
Hi Colleen!
We all need hope. One writer said that we can lose all our earthly belongings and our health and everything we hold dear, and we can still survive. But if we lose hope, we perish.
Truly Jesus is our hope, our anchor to hold us steady when the storm winds blow.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you for the reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus. I’m a glass half empty kind of girl, but God is teaching me how to hope in Christ. Be blessed everyone. ❤️ G
Hi Gina!
We’re all works-in-progress. Thanks for sharing with us about what God is doing in your life. Good stuff!
Know you are loved,
Grace
I do the very same thing! All the time. Thanks for calling me out in it and offering a different response!
Hi Penny:
I think most of us do the same thing, and often we don’t even realize it. We’re so used to letting our thoughts go that it feels normal. Thankfully, God has shown us a better way so we can control our thoughts rather than letting them control us and eventually our destiny. Have a great day!
Know you are loved,
Grace
Oh my…just yesterday my thoughts went down such a windy wrong path in just seconds.😢 God did pull me back but I woke up this morning, still angry at the situation. The first thing I saw was a devotion titled The Way of Wisdom, Right and Wrong Ways with this prayer:”I sometimes follow a side thought, just to see where it goes. All too often, those thoughts lead me astray. Keep my thoughts (and my actions) on God-approved pathways. ” The next post was this devotion from you. 🙂 God is amazing, how He can orchestrate exactly what I need at the exact moment of need. My Jan 9 journal entry has my cry to God to help my thought life. He keeps giving me more nuggets of help. May I LISTEN and OBEY. 🙏
I’ll be praying on your knee, Grace. One of my “off-road ” thoughts was in regard to my husband limping around, refusing to call the doctor and my mind already going down the surgery-recovery-change of travel plans road. Grrr .
Hi Becky:
I love that God plunked two things in front of you on the same day, the very day you woke up feeling angry about your situation. He’s looking out for you, my friend! Thanks for your prayers about my knee. I really need it to be strong, especially for international travel. We have a trip to Poland coming up in March, and I don’t want to be hobbling around through airports and hotels.
Have a great day, and know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you so very much for this message. I am facing the same as you in both knees. My thoughts bring me to negativity first, then worry about my job taking care of my husband, and finally how bad the pain is. All negatives! But, as you wrote, what does Jesus see, only hope!
God bless!
Hey, Terrie. Thanks for stopping by. I’m sorry to hear about your knee challenges. I do hope you find some relief from the pain. Physio worked wonders for me — I was shocked, actually, at how much the pain decreased after one treatment. Regardless, I pray that the Lord will strengthen not only your knees but your heart as you walk this journey.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thank you Grace for your encouragement.
I’ve had so many changes since my husband’s passed away 10/19/23.
All the decisions I’ve been having to do with not having him by my side. But trusting God through all these changes. My faith has gotten stronger through all these changes. God has been my comfort and peace through it all.
God Bless you and Gene (Sailor Man)
Know You Are Loved
Penny L
Hi Penny! Thanks for posting your thoughts. After my dad died, my mom said much the same thing as you did about having to go through so many changes and decisions on her own. Her faith grew, as yours is growing. What a journey, right? I’m so glad you’ve experienced God’s peace and comfort. Carry on, my friend. You’re a blessing.
Know you are loved,
Grace
Thanks for this devotional, Grace. I literally wrote this morning in my journal about my “looping thoughts”. How hard it is for me to settle and hear from Jesus! And how easy to start “what if-ing”! God bless you and your knee. ❤️
Hi Deborah:
Those looping thoughts are sooo common to all of us. And those “what-ifs”…..goodness, they have a way of sneaking up without our even realizing it sometimes. They lead us down the wrong path all too quickly unless we reel them in and trade them out for truth. Thanks for posting, and thanks for the knee well wishes. Physio therapy has helped alot in the past few weeks.
Know you are loved,
Grace