Perspective Shift: When God Asks Challenging Questions - Jeanne Takenaka
Contents
Has God ever asked you a question so clearly that you squirmed with the discomfort of it, that it caused a perspective shift in your heart and soul?
A number of years back, I was sitting in church. That morning my rejection issues rose up and called me condemned.
People’s words and compliments filtered through that rejection lens and came through as warped and untrue. I doubted any good thing said, and pain burrowed into my heart.
All of a sudden, this question shouted in my mind:
“Do you want to be made well?”
Of course, I wanted to be made well. To not struggle with the thoughts and the emotions that flooded me at random times. Sometimes before we can be healed, we need a perspective shift.
When we don’t answer the question
Jesus asked this question of the man lying near the Pool of Bethesda. He’d been sick for thirty-eight years (See John 5).
Did Jesus even have to ask if he wanted to be made well? Of course, the man did!
Didn’t he?
Maybe the man justified his situation because he wanted Jesus to understand, to agree to sit with him and help him to the pool when the angel stirred the waters.
Maybe he didn’t know who Jesus was.
It could be that discouragement had sapped his hope of being healed. But a part of him still yearned to walk.
Doesn’t God still do this sometimes? He asks a question that should have an obvious answer. To answer honestly and walk in that answer will require a perspective shift.
But, maybe we’ve been living with the condition for a long time.
Maybe the scars of abuse have impacted us our entire lives. Maybe we’ve dealt with an illness for years. Maybe we’ve been out of a job for months.
And He asks the question, “Do you want____?”
This question? It’s an invitation to a perspective shift from what we think we know to what could be.
Perspective Shift: When God Asks Challenging Questions‚—This question is an invitation to a perspective shift from what we think we know to what could be. #tellhisstory #perspective #trustgod Click To Tweet
God invites us into a perspective shift
The man’s answer fascinates me. He may have had only a smidgen of hope left. He was lying by the healing pool, after all. But he didn’t dare hope he could actually be the one to be healed.
He was stuck in the mindset he knew.
Sometimes, for our prayers to be fully answered, God must shift our perspective from what seems to be to what could be.
At times, He must shake us out of our “this-is-the-way-it-will-always-be” mindset before we can envision the changes He could make . . . if we choose to put our faith in Him.
We attempt to control our circumstances by not earnestly hoping—not fervently trusting—that God can do what our heart secretly longs for.
When God asks the question
When God asks that question, “Do you want______?” He’s inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.
It’s an invitation to trust the Creator of all things with the hurts in our hearts,
. . . the desires we’ve held close,
. . . the needs we’ve struggled with.
Are we willing to say, “Yes, I want to be healed? I want to be cared for? I want to be free?”
Unless our answer is yes, we can never know the miracles God may do in our lives.
Jesus saw the heart
Jesus must have seen the man’s heart. Maybe His words were a test. He told the man, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
The man had a choice . . . He could continue to lie there because, of course, he couldn’t walk.
Or, he could act on Jesus’ words.
Perhaps this man saw something in Jesus that gave him the confidence to trust God. Maybe the tone of Jesus’ voice or the warmth in His eyes caused the man to have a perspective shift.
God is more than able to—without a word—touch that wounded place in our lives and call it healed.
Perspective Shift: When God Asks Challenging Questions—God is more than able to—without a word—touch that wounded place in our lives and call it healed. #tellhisstory #perspective #faith Click To Tweet
What Jesus wants
But, He desires relationship. Sometimes, God tests us, not immediately giving us what He knows we want. He invites us to take a step into the unknown and trust that He’ll be there to meet us, to walk with us, to help us.
Here’s what it comes down to . . . how will we answer His question: “Do you want___?”
Conclusion
I grappled with this question the morning God asked. I yearned to be made well. But that meant I would have to trust God to renew my mind, to help me see interactions through His eyes rather than through my distorted filter. I needed a perspective shift.
Saying yes, in my case, has led me on a step-by-step path toward healing in my heart and thoughts.
When we seek a relationship with Jesus . . .
When we believe and act on His word . . .
He meets us in our uncertainty—in our need—and brings healing and restoration to the broken places in our lives.
What about you? When has God challenged you with a question? What helps you to be open to a perspective shift when you need one?
***FINAL NOTES:
I created a Scriptures printable for you to think on relating to this blog post. I hope you enjoy!
We’ll meet back here next week for the Tell His Story link-up
This blog, in a slightly different format was first shared on my former blog site a few years ago.
Perspective Shift: When God Asks Challenging Questions—Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To Tweet
Most weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
