Taking a 50,000 Foot View In a Rabbit Hole Culture

There is no shortage of things to worry about these days. We are bombarded with ever-changing new cycles from wars to the Epstein files, to new viruses, to UFO disclosure. Everything seems like it’s important, urgent, and in need of our attention.

It is easy to get sucked into the minutia of events and lose focus on the over-arching purpose of our lives, which is ultimately where we will see changes in our world.

Many things keep us from fulfilling our God-given callings. Distractions and difficulties of life tend to pull us into a self-absorbed realm where WE are the only thing that matters. When, in fact, when we should be living in an others-absorbed reality.

It is from the giving of ourselves that we find purpose.

So how do we rewire our thoughts to filter out the unproductive noise and bring our focus back to our kingdom calling?

Intentionality

Changes do not happen on their own. Habits are created when we intentionally practice modifying our behavior.

Letting oneself get caught up in the stress of daily life limits our ability to think or see broadly. One cannot operate freely within chaos. Vision is narrowed literally and figuratively. You cannot see past the thing that has you stuck. You become a prisoner of your own mind.

You can break the cycle!

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

We combat the negative with things ‘worthy of praise’! Sometimes this is easier said than done. But even if it’s difficult to think about anything lovely, just the process of trying will start to change your thought patterns. When we intentionally look for the true, honorable, and lovely, we shift the paradigm of thought patterns and over time transform our mind all together.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2a)

Taking a 50,000 foot view widens our perspective to see things with clearer vision.

-          What is God planning?

o   We may not know the exact plan, but we can know that from the beginning God has partnered with humanity to bring Heaven to Earth. You have a part to play.

-          How do I fit into this plan?

o   You are here for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). You have been given spiritual gifts, talents, resources to use in God’s great plan.

-          What gifts, talents, abilities, or passions has God given you to use locally?

o   “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12: 6-8)

Simple questions can help direct your outlook toward areas where we can serve others, which the kingdom of God is all about – blessing others via the resources given to us by God.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phillippians 2:3-4)

God’s Promises

Losing your job, financial problems, marital issues, rebellious teenagers, we could go on and on about all the things life can throw at us. Struggles of this kind can blind us from seeing the bigger picture.

However, there is hope! Like anything, it takes intentionality to pull back the veil and see with a wider perspective.

For me, it was daily journaling. Nothing fancy. I would simply write the date and the words, “Lay at Jesus’ feet”. From there I would list everything that weighed heavy on my heart. I would offer these things to Jesus because He tells us that His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). The weight that the world gives us is heavy and it is not something we are meant to carry alone. Jesus wants us to trust Him with our problems.

The Bible is full of God’s promises to help, heal, and protect us.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plan for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God doesn’t break His promises because there is no changing in His character, we can trust His faithfulness.

I wish I could tell you that immediately everything worked out. That’s not what happened. I had to daily give the same problems over to Jesus. But every day I showed up in faith knowing He was going to be there too.

There are promises waiting for you too. Jesus wants to speak into your specific situation to give you hope, comfort, and healing.

He promises to be with you and strengthen you – Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:8,

To give you peace – Isaiah 26:3, John 16:33

To instruct, teach, and counsel you – Psalm 32:8

And so much more….

We do not walk this life alone. Keeping God’s promises at the forefront of our minds gives us the ability to be in the world, but not of the world.

Community

Lastly, community connection is vital. Isolation, intentional or not, is toxic for the soul. You’ll have a hard time keeping a broad, heavenly perspective if you are sitting in your house all alone. Finding a community of people who care and support one another is life giving. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Community encourages, draws out wisdom from other people’s perspectives, fosters hope, supports each other, and challenges each other to be a better version of themselves each day.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:24).

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing…And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 11,14-15)

When you find the right community of people to share life with, the challenges of life feel much more bearable. The right people make you feel seen, heard, cared for, and understood. They bring out the best in you and if you don’t know what gifts or talents you have to share with the world, your community can help you identify your calling.

Now it’s time to put this into practice. “[A]s we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Practice keeping our gaze toward heavenly things with intentionality, remembering and reminding ourselves of God’s promises, and surrounding ourselves with a community of people who aim to reflect the love of Jesus.