A much-needed change of perspective
Part 1 of an
interview with Katie Bennett,
Author of Heavenly Minded Mom
Following
the birth of her second child, life was good for Bennett. Everything she had
dreamed of for herself had come to pass, and it was all she had imagined, but
also fragile. Because life is so uncertain she began to fear that she would
lose it. Longing for hope, she entered a season of deep reflection on eternity.
It was during that time her perspective changed as she shifted her focus to
heaven and the promises of the life to come.
Q:
In the book, you write about a time when you were struggling spiritually following
the birth of your second child. Can you tell us a little bit about what was
going on during that time that began changing your way of thinking?
Life was good. I was incredibly content with
my loving husband, two sweet children and happy home. In fact, I loved my life.
However, because I had everything I had ever wanted, I began to fear something
would happen to tip the scales. Suddenly, it all felt fragile, and I began to
lay awake at night feeling strangely helpless and praying fervently against the
many calamities I could imagine. As strange as it was, I began to long for hope
right in the midst of my dream life.
With that longing, my thoughts turned toward
heaven. I entered into a season of deep reflection on life, death, and eternity
while struggling with doubt and uncertainty. I realized how temporary and
fleeting life is, how the infinite is beyond comprehension. Through this time
of struggle, God emptied my heart of the idols it held and taught me to put my
hope in what is sure and unshakable, the eternal life in Christ that is here
now and is yet to come.
Q:
What was your turning point in the midst of that uncertainty?
It was a slow, gradual outpouring of faith and
perspective. Like the potter and the clay, God crushed who I was and made me
new. He didn’t just adjust how I saw life a little bit. He gave me new eyes.
When I made the decision to believe, trust and
follow Him no matter how I felt or where my understanding failed, He blessed me
with joy, purpose and certainty. Not before, but after. I think sometimes for
faith to be faith, it needs to be a choice, not a feeling.
Q:
How has your life changed as a result of this new perspective?
In every way. Perspective is how we view life,
and this viewpoint will determine our approach not only to trials and
successes, but to how we live our everyday moments.
When we know we will receive an eternal reward
when we persevere through trials that are ultimately very temporary, we are
filled with new resolve. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
When we understand the forgiveness we give to
others is the forgiveness Christ will offer us on Judgement Day, we will
forgive offenses in fear of the Lord regardless of the merit of the recipient. (Matthew
6:14-15)
When we know and believe time is short and
each person on this earth has an eternal destination that will either include
eternal punishment or eternal life, our insecurities will lose their power in
the face of urgency, and we will become a force for the gospel in our circles
of influence. (Matthew 25:31-46)
Q:
What are some tangible things readers can do to build perspective?
You can spend time daily reading God’s word.
You can travel out of your context to see what God is doing around the globe.
You can sacrificially give money to support the work of Christian organizations
in suffering countries in the name of Jesus and follow along with the work that
is happening. You can push yourself to be content and not buy the next new
thing, believing that gain and pleasure and fun in this lifetime are not the
greatest goal.
I wrote Heavenly
Minded Mom to help lead mothers specifically through a journey to reframe their
thinking around the truth of eternity found in scripture.
Q:
How does perspective impact the way we process suffering?
When we become heavenly minded, we know that
our faithful perseverance in suffering will be rewarded (James 1:12). We know
that we won’t have to endure the heartaches and pain of this world for long. We
cling to our hope of redemption and the life that is to come, and we pray for
Christ’s return! We don’t hope in our failing bodies or our crumbling world, we
hope in the perfect, enduring world that is to come. In this way, our spirits
will not be crushed by suffering, because we understand that a good or easy
life now was never the goal. Rather, the goal is to become like Christ.
Q:
How does having a heavenly minded perspective change the way we view money?
Money loses its value in our hearts when we realize
God’s economy. As Solomon observed, we spend our lives striving for it, but we
die and can’t take it with us. We leave it to our children, but they don’t get
to take it with them either. (Ecclesiastes 5:15)
In the New Testament, Christ says, “Do not
store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)
When we set our hearts on heaven, we will
learn to hold money loosely and leverage it for eternal purposes.
Keep up with Katie Bennett at www.embracingasimplerlife.com. Follow her on Facebook (EmbracingaSimplerLife) and Instagram (EmbracingaSimplerLife).
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