File this one under “everything happens for a reason.”  Or maybe “can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Everyone would be well served by gaining some perspective. I got mine this week, when I realized that possibly the greatest frustration, the biggest disappointment, the most painful thing in my life right now, has actually been given to me for a specific purpose. It was given to me to provide perspective, to help show me something I needed to deeply understand about myself, to force me into a choice between trusting God with it or digging a deeper hole and wallowing in it. I’ve stressed and obsessed about it for a couple of years now, seeing it only as a burden and an unfortunate reality I had to accept.

But after stepping back for a moment and looking at it with a fresh eye, it is incredibly clear to me that I have been foolishly passing over an incredible learning experience and growth opportunity. It doesn’t mean that this inconvenience in my life is any less inconvenient, but it does mean that it has a clear purpose and has presented me with a deeper understanding of myself, and of my relationship with God.  How cruel that I would be pressed with a challenge that directly struck at a major weakness I have long endured. Or how clever. By learning how to deal with the challenge at hand in the right way, I will strengthen myself and my walk. It doesn’t make it any easier to deal with or make it stink any less, but it does help me respond more positively to it.

To gain perspective, you must be good at reading signs, and signs are everywhere. This world is full of them. In an earlier post I talked about changing your filter so that you could better view the world around you. I have another simple, yet effective tip for you and me today that can help us gain perspective. Ask why. My five-year-old is great at it. We’re having pancakes for breakfast. Why? Daddy has to go to work. Why? Time for bed. Why? No, we can’t go to Disney World tonight. Why? The sky is blue.

Why? Why? Why?

If we were to practice firing off this three-letter word on a regular basis, we would force ourselves to ponder the world around us, the endless string of things that happen to us on a daily basis, the signs we are passing by, over, through, around. We would continuously analyze and interpret. We would find perspective. We would see more forest, and fewer trees. We would be more likely to remove ourselves from the muck and mire of the scenario to snap a clearer picture.

So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a trial or an unpleasant situation, ask yourself what God has for you in this moment of difficulty. Chances are, there is a reason for which this is happening. You just have to ask why.