A Different Perspective

How often have you heard someone asking the "why" questions when things are not going as planned, or when there has been a major disappointment or setback?  You know the ones - "why is God allowing this to happen?", or "why me?", or "why isn't this going the way I had planned?"  There are many variations to these questions, and I'm sure I've asked most of them at one time or another.  Maybe you have, too.


I've just finished reading a great new book by one of my Coach Trainers, Tony Stoltzfus.  Tony is pretty much the "guru" of Christian Coaching.  His latest book is titled "The Calling Journey" and it focuses on the different stages of life that a leader will find himself in.  You can complete your own calling timeline by visiting this website.  It's a very interesting exercise.


Towards the end of the book, Tony writes "[a new] perspective moves us away from thinking that life just happens to us and we have to endure it, and toward believing 'God is in this - what is he doing?'  This is the 'called according to his purposes' perspective mentioned in Romans 8:28.  When we engage life like someone who is called, where God is in everything, purposefully preparing us, then everything that happens to us ends up working out for good."


When we change our perspective from "why me?" or "why is this happening to me?" to, "where is God in this?" or "what does God want me to learn in this?" that is very powerful!  Instead of asking the why questions, begin to ask the where and what questions.  This idea has impacted me in a big way - it really does change your perspective and your focus, and the outcome.


The next time you are in a situation that isn't going the way you planned, or there is pain or disappointment, try looking at the issue from a different perspective and see how it changes for you.