A magnifying glass is a very unique tool. When light rays from an object pass through a magnifying glass, the convex lens bends the rays so that they converge and create an image in our eyes. This essentially tricks our eyes into seeing the object larger than it normally would be. Wherever we focus the magnifying glass, the bigger the object appears.
The same is true for our lives. We all have a metaphorical magnifying glass and every day we get to choose where we place our focus and energy. We can magnify problems, conflict, negativity, criticism, excuses, or fear of the future. Or we can magnify positivity, peace, love, joy, hope, kindness, and thankfulness. It’s all about having the right perspective.
In the book of Numbers chapter 13, the Israelites were about to enter into the land of Canaan that the Lord had promised them after spending almost 400 years enslaved in Egypt. While camped out at the northern edge of the Desert of Paran, the Lord told Moses to send 12 spies to get an accurate scope of the promised land to report to the rest of the people. This was a round trip of about 300 miles.
When the men came back to give the report, this was what they said, “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is the fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large… All the people there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. (Numbers 13:27-28, 32-33)
Even though God had promised this land to the Israelites, they forgot all about His promise when they saw the enemy through their limited perspective. They magnified the power of the Nephilim (Goliath-sized giants) and minimized themselves so that they ”seemed like grasshoppers.”
However in the following passage, two of the twelve spies were able to see things differently. “Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us! (Numbers 14:6-10)
Notice the two different perspectives. Instead of complaining and magnifying how terrible of a situation they were going to face, Joshua and Caleb decided that they were going to focus on the Lord’s power, provision, and promise. They knew that no matter what happened, God was going to give them the land that He had promised. Yet despite Joshua and Caleb’s best efforts, the negative perspective of the other 10 spies ended up causing what should have only been a two-week journey through the wilderness to last 40 years.
Just like Joshua and Caleb, we too have a choice to make. We can focus on the magnitude of all the problems and obstacles we face. We can let the influence of social media magnify other people’s negative thoughts, opinions and comments as we scroll through our feed. We can watch the daily news of how doomed we are as a society. Or we can allow God to give us His perspective as we spend time with Him through prayer and His word.
“Do not conform the pattern of this world but be transformed by the
renewing of our mind.” (Romans 12:2) Rather than looking around at the negativity of what everyone in the world is doing and saying, let’s focus on directing our magnifying glass to what is true, holy, and pure. Let’s focus on the good news. Let’s focus on Jesus.
The Bigger Picture: The more you magnify peaceful, positive, uplifting thoughts in your mind, the more of God’s joy and peace you will experience in your life.
The Bigger Picture 