Rescue: Finding God In Life's ChallengesSample

"Perspective" Tim Tebow was a star quarterback in college, but since moving to the NFL, he has found it tough to land a job. Despite his on-field challenges, though, Tebow remains beloved by millions for the simple and humble way he lives out his faith in God. Whether it was starring for free in a pro-life television commercial, or bowing in prayer on the field (a practice that became known as “Tebowing,”) or beginning every post-game press conference thanking and honoring God, Tebow’s faith has never wavered even as his career has wobbled. How has he managed that? “I'm just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way,” he explains. “That's the best way to start your day and finish your day. It keeps everything in perspective.” Perspective. Seeing the God story behind the Me story. That’s the key. And it’s our focus for today. Perhaps no one in the Bible had to constantly reset his perspective more than Joseph. As a teenager, he received an evocative dream from God pointing to future success, suggesting a charmed life may await. But it did not. He was tossed into a hole to die by his jealous brothers. They changed their minds and sold him into slavery instead. He was wrongfully accused of sexual assault by his master’s wife and thrown into prison. He finally got out to serve as Pharaoh’s right-hand man after interpreting the leader’s dream and seeing Egypt through a famine. And then his brothers showed up. After all he’d been through on account of their mistreatment, Joseph could have punished his brothers. But he blessed and forgave them instead. That’s because, through all those years he suffered as the result of their cruelty, he refused to see what happened to him as a setback or a punishment. He readjusted his perspective often, viewing his circumstances from the vantage point of a man who knew God had a special calling on his life, and determined to serve God the best he could in the midst of whatever life threw at him. Joseph didn’t see his life as a tragedy. He saw it as a triumph-in-waiting. An opportunity to learn the value of perseverance, the discipline of humility, the difference between finding happiness in his circumstances and finding joy in the Lord. It was all about his perspective. We may not face the same challenges Joseph did. But we have challenges of our own. How we emerge from those circumstances will be shaped in large part by our perspective on them. Seeing ourselves as defeated is the quickest path to defeat. Seeing ourselves as victims ensures we will be victimized. But seeing ourselves through the lens of God’s promises and calling brings us closer to fulfilling those promises and calling.