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Hi. Welcome back to the Christ Gives Hope podcast. Today's episode is all about. perspective. A shift in perspective when our situations have not changed or are not what we would've chosen or, you know, put another way when situations in our life or anything but welcomed. I want you to think about this question. Can a change in your perspective help your situation, your outlook? We'll talk about that in a minute, but before we get into that, if you're new here, this is a podcast all about you. We aim to bring you Christ's healing love during the hard, the crises, the grief, the difficult life challenges that you may be facing. we aim to share the hope. We each have in Christ and how Stephen Ministry can be a resource, a hand, a support for you. If Stephen Ministry is something that you're not familiar with. We as Stephen Ministers, we're all about caring for you when you need it. Most Stephen Ministry is a free, confidential, safe space for you to talk through the areas of your life that you're struggling with, and we want to be Jesus hands and feet for you as we walk alongside you. My name is Lisa Stasik, and I'm your host. I'm also a Stephen Minister. I serve alongside many men and women in our Stephen Ministry program at St. Lorenz, who have a heart for the Lord. They are full of compassion and truly wish to support you and be that steady, calming presence as you face life's many challenges. If you're local to St. Lorenz in Frankenmuth, Michigan, we have a team of Stephen Ministers ready to support you. But if you are listening from elsewhere around the country, I encourage you to check with your local church, Stephen Ministry. It's a national ministry with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, and chances are very good that there's a local Stephen Ministry program near you. You don't have to be a member of St. Lorenz or a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod to receive care from a Stephen minister, and you don't need to have your faith all figured out to receive care from a Stephen minister. alright, let's shift to perspective. This episode, it's inspired by two stories from two individuals where perspective shifts in their own situation. Changed their outlook. The first, his name is Greg and he's also a Stephen minister. But he had this to say when he was asked, why did you become a Stephen minister? this was his answer and I want to share it with you. He said this, and I quote, as a recent cancer survivor, I know firsthand that people going through tough times need support, even if it's a listening ear, even if it's a listening ear. I wanna focus on that comment today, even if it's a listening ear, having someone truly listen to you. Listen to you without judgment, listen to you without condemnation. You know, listen, without telling you what to do, it can be so supportive and helpful. And over time, having someone truly be that listening ear, it can help you change your perspective towards a situation you're facing because that situation you may not have control over it. You likely can't control it at all. And that situation, it's likely not what you would have chosen, not what you would choose to go through, and Steven Ministry can be that role, like a mentor towards you as they listen and when you just wanna be heard, it can be that support that you long for. And there's no judgment here. When you're going through something tough and you feel like, gosh, I don't want you to tell me what to do. I don't want your feedback, please just hear me out. Can anyone relate to feeling that way. Sometimes we just need someone to hear us right, and not, not judge, and not interject with their own opinion of what we should do. I, I think we can all relate to that. If you have something on your heart that you just, you wanna get. Out and you wanna talk through it, it can be so helpful and it can be encouraging. And what happens over time, it can be like a weight lifted off. If you find yourself in a situation that's awful that you didn't see coming, that you never would've chosen. When we're faced with situations like that in our life, as much as we would like to change it or control it, we often can't. So if you are relating to that, you can't control it. You can't change it. What if there's a different way to perceive it? A different perspective? You can take and you can ask, you can ask in prayer. Lord, please show me. Is there a different perspective I should have? Is there a different way I can view this, that I can think about this? Can you show me the good, you say you work all things for good, just like you promised. That's Romans 8 28. Is there a different perspective that I currently do not see? A friend of mine was recently explaining to me, she has three kiddos and they each go to three different schools, and it's a lot of driving. We are in central Florida and it's a busy area. My husband and I, we kind of have this joke that it takes 20 minutes to get anywhere. The amount of cars, it takes some patience to get anywhere. Anyway, we're in a busier area and my friend, she was telling me, you know, she has three different school drop off locations in the morning, and it has changed a lot of her weekday, Monday through Friday schedule. She spends a lot of time in her car, but she was telling me, even though it would not be her first choice, she said she had gained a different perspective on it. And this really hit me and I really like this. Her different perspective on it was this. She said it has given her time with each one of her kids one-on-one that she normally doesn't have. So what a blessing it actually is. She said after, even though she's kind of driving all around, but it gave her this one-on-one time that she normally wouldn't have had with each one of her kids. Huh. What a perspective shift. instead of focusing on all the time in the car and the inconveniences that could bring, she chose to focus on the blessings in it. In your situation, it might not be the same. You might not be dropping your kids off at school or practices, but is there something in your life or in the circumstances you are facing that perhaps you can have a different perspective on? a different perspective that would illuminate God's grace, his blessings in it. Just like my friend who is able to see the blessing of one-on-one time with our kids. Even though that situation isn't exactly what she would have wanted, and you can ask for that in prayer, and a Stephen Minister can help talk you through that and help you see God's grace in the midst of your situation. See His hand in the midst of your circumstances. A shift in perspective and often that shift in perspective can really help lift that weight off because really in our difficult situations, God might be carrying us through something that we cannot control. Maybe it's with your health or the health of a loved one. Maybe it's an illness or a chronic illness. Maybe it's a relationship struggles or problems. Perhaps it's financial issues or issues with friendships or your marriage or with your children. Maybe there's a big decision you have to make a decision that seems impossible and all of these difficult situations that we cannot control. They can be really weighty, really heavy, but seeking a different perspective on it. Says, Lord, what are you trying to teach me through this? Will you show me your hand in this, in Romans 8 28? Again, your word says, and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. So we know you're working all things for good and you are good. I know you are merciful. I know you are gracious. Is there a different perspective you can show me in the situation? Help me see Your hand, Your blessings in it. You see a change in perspective can really be transforming. It might not come quickly. It might not come easily, but when it does and when you're able by the grace of God to view your circumstances or your situation with a different view, it can help you see God's hand, His presence, the blessings, even when there does not seem to be any and what happens, a weight is lifted off and it is. Freeing. It's absolutely freeing. A Stephen Minister can help shift your perspective as they listen to you. That support, even if it's a listening ear, they can come alongside you and just listen. Listen and help you process and talk through it all. And that can be such a gift because oftentimes we just want someone to just hear me, please. I don't wanna be told what to do. I don't wanna be ridiculed. I don't wanna be judged often. Talking through your worries, your fears, your sadness and grief. That is when that shift will start. And I believe that's a gracious gift from the Lord. When we're able to view things a little differently, a slightly different perspective and God's perspective, it's eternal. It is beyond our comprehension and ours, our perspective is finite, right? We're limited to our own understanding, which often can be clouded in the fears, the worries, anxiety, grief. But when we allow God to give us a glimpse of His perspective, it brings with it a peace. A peace that will settle in, a peace that settles into your inner being, into your thoughts and a change in perspective. It pulls us into God's truth with whatever we are facing. So if you find yourself struggling today or in this season of your life, remind yourself. And over and over if you need to, that those promises, you know to be true, right? God is working all things for good, just like he promises. Even if you can't see it, even if you don't feel it, and ask your heavenly Father, please help me see your hand in this. Please help me see a different perspective that is rooted in your truth. And don't be afraid to reach out for help. You know, if this strikes a chord with you, this feeling like. Maybe there's something wrong if you reach out for help. I want to encourage you that could not be further from the truth. We talk about that in an earlier episode titled, Shattering the Stigma Surrounding a Healthy Mind. And it's a quick episode. I encourage you to listen to that when you have a few moments if you haven't already.'cause we discuss the lies that we are often led to believe about talking with someone and reaching out for help. Because the truth is you don't have to face it alone. Finding a trusted mentor like a Stephen Minister can come alongside you as they just listen to you. And Kay List, she pointed out in an earlier episode called Encouragement for Parents. Part two, Practical Tips for Your Day-to-Day Interactions with your Kids. She had this to say about Stephen Ministry. She said, we are trained to just listen and to encourage, and so it doesn't matter what you're dealing with, if it's something that's a crisis in your life, get help. Like she said, we're trained to listen. And listen well, and I don't say that lightly. Having someone walk alongside you as they offer that listening ear really can make a profound difference during that difficult challenge you may be facing. And as you talk through it, a different view, a different perspective will likely start to take hold. A Stephen Minister can faithfully, come alongside you. Stephen Ministry is a confidential, free ministry. It is non-judgmental. There is no judgment here. It's a safe space. Talking with a compassionate, trustworthy Stephen Minister may be just what God has planned to help carry you through. If you're feeling overwhelmed and broken right now through the cross of Jesus, God can make you whole. In the heart of Stephen Ministry, it has rooted in the biblical principle that Christ cares for people through people. At St. Lorenz, we have a team of Stephen Ministers ready to support you to care for you. More information about our Stephen Ministry program can be found@christgiveshope.org. If you're interested in Stephen Ministry for yourself or for a loved one, more information can be found@christgiveshope.org. Please take a minute to subscribe or click the follow button so you don't miss future episodes. And a quick note, this is not medical advice if you need professional care or care from a physician that is beyond the scope of Stephen Ministry. All right. Thank you so much for listening. God's blessings to you.