This Is What Happened When I Shifted My Perspective
When we first moved into our current home, it felt like we were living in the money pit. Anyone remember the 1986 Tom Hanks movie? If not, you should pause right now and watch this clip in order to fully understand the reference I just made.
Within six months, there were broken garage doors, rotted sub floors, rotted french doors, leaking pipes, ruined kitchen floors, exploding water systems, two broken cars, and a broken washer and dryer, just to name the big ones.
Do you feel overwhelmed by that list? Because I certainly did! We had lived in the home less than a year and none of these issues were disclosed. Nothing gets my blood boiling more than dishonesty. Add that to the frustration of trying to find the time and resources to fix the house, and I was rapidly falling down a rabbit hole of self-pity and complaints.
The house was falling apart at the same time the church my husband leads was beginning a building campaign. We desired to be extremely generous in our financial pledge to the church, but the reality of the home repairs was overwhelming.
Ever been there?
My soul was anxious and worried. What if we run out of money. We have three kids. What if . . . .
My mind was mad and full of complaints. Why does everything fall apart at the same time? Why now God?
I knew I should be peaceful about the situation and trust God, but I just couldn’t. I wanted people to feel sorry for us. See how hard life in ministry is?
I wanted to complain to God. We willingly went into full time ministry. We could be making enough money to do these repairs if we were in another profession. Why are you letting this happen to us?
You’ll Never Get Ahead
Then, about 9pm on a Friday night, I hear Brent say: “Kari, get up here quick. What is this noise?!”
As I slowly walk up the stairs, I hear it. Bats. It sounds like 26 babies had just hatched in our attic and there was a celebration party happening. And I felt my gut start to sink into that place where desperation just wants to lie to you and say, See, you’ll never get ahead.
We launched into problem-solving mode. Brent got on the roof to check for holes, we sealed up every single space where they could have possibly flown into the attic, and made a plan to get rid of them adding yet one more home repair to the list.
We started with the worn down weather stripping on the garage door. Maybe that’s how the bats got in? Through the garage and into the attic door in the garage ceiling?
As we pulled the weather stripping off, we realized the wood underneath was completely rotted. Rotted to the point of disintegrating into pieces at the touch. In fact, it appeared to be rotted all the way up the front of our house under the siding.
In an instant, my heart and perspective shifted. I looked at Brent and said, Thank you Jesus for giving us bats.
Stretched Faith & Shifted Persective
Several years ago, I read the book, The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. The story follows two sisters as they endure a concentration camp during WWII. There’s a part in the book where Corrie’s sister Betsy thanks God for the fleas that are all over their bedding.
Corrie can’t understand why her sister would thank God for the insect that is causing such turmoil for the women. It’s only later that Corrie realized the guards were leaving the women alone in the barracks because of the fleas. This allowed the women to have Bible studies and many accepted Christ—because of the fleas.
Give thanks in all circumstances . . . .
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As I looked at our garage, both the story from The Hiding Place coupled with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 immediately came to mind and I had to stop in my tracks.
If there hadn’t been bats, we would never have discovered the larger issue, rotting wood. Thank you Jesus for the bats.
If the house had not taxed us financially, I would never have learned just how great of a provider the Lord is because we never went without what we needed. I watched the Lord multiply our finances and provide for our needs. Thank you Lord for pinching our finances.
If the generosity campaign at church had not occurred in the same season as the multiple home repairs, I would not have had the chance to sacrificially give with truly no understanding of how we were going to reach the financial number we pledged. Thank you Lord for stretching my faith.
The Thankfulness Lens
When I began to see life through the lens of thankfulness, my entire perspective on my circumstances changed. No longer was I feeling sorry for myself and walking in a victim mentality. Suddenly, my hope was in the power of God and my focus was on my dependence on him. My inner life was transformed.
Thankfulness didn’t change the outward circumstances, but it transformed my inner life. As my heart began to rejoice and be thankful, the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” reigned and guarded my “heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7)
There’s a reason Paul talks about the “peace of God” after he talks about the need to be thankful. When I stopped complaining and began obeying the command of Scripture to be thankful, my perspective changed and my faith grew. Where complaining made me feel abandoned by God, thankfulness required me to see God’s hand in all circumstances. As we learn to see God, we truly are surrounded by peace.
Stopping to be thankful changed everything.
Meet Kari Minter
Kari Minter is the creator of Kariminter.com where she writes and creates resources to help women cultivate a deeper walk with God. Kari loves writing Bible studies and teaching women to study and fall in love with God’s Word. Her next Bible Study will be released through Hosanna Revival in January 2024.
In addition, Kari loves to spend her time with her three kids (ages 14-17) and her husband, the lead pastor of Keystone Church of Ankeny. She also works for the Baptist Convention of Iowa as a Church Planters’ Spousal Advocate and recently earned her Masters in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
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(+ 1 Simple Habit to Shift Your Direction)
If you long for deep, meaningful relationships, this is for you!
Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
