See God More Clearly: A Shift in Perspective (and Giveaway)

“When we follow God into the unknown, our expectations of his grace must become greater than our dependence on an answer.”
—Abby McDonald, Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God

Although entrusted to me 18 years ago, I can hear the words as if spoken today: “You have to embrace the whole child, disabilities included. Your child is not separate from her disabilities. They are simply a part of who she is.” A perspective I didn’t want to hear but needed to. This shift in perspective changed the way I thought of and treated 4-year-old Rachel from then on. I think it did the same for many of the other parents at the training center that day.

Over the next several years I learned to see my daughter less as a child with disabilities and more as simply Rachel, my sweet girl. And who she is happens to include delays in her physical and intellectual development. When the way I viewed Rach shifted, it completely changed our relationship. Less of a barrier existed and I drew closer to her, getting to know her in a whole new way. I saw her in an entirely new light.

And she began to blossom (but those stories are for another time).

A Shift in Perspective

Abby McDonald in her debut book, Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God, applies this idea of shifting our perspective to our relationship with the Lord, but she takes it further:

“There’s a shift that has to take place. We have to change not only how we view him, but how we look for him…. we’ll see God with a new set of eyes and a new gait of fresh confidence.”

Throughout Shift, Abby unpacks this idea of shifting our perspective in the expectations we have of the Lord, perhaps better said as the expectations we place on Him. Instead of expecting God to behave in a certain matter, we must learn to trust His goodness and love. Even when He appears silent or answers with no. Even when we face circumstances we think He should fix.

Instead of expecting God to behave in a certain matter, we must learn to trust His goodness and love. Even when He appears silent or answers with no. Even when we face circumstances we think He should fix. Click To Tweet

Abby says it this way, “When we follow God into the unknown, our expectations of his grace must become greater than our dependence on an answer.”

And

“If we want to see God clearly, our thirst for him must become greater than our thirst for answers.”

'When we follow God into the unknown, our expectations of his grace must become greater than our dependence on an answer.' @abby_mcdonald7 #shiftbook #giveaway Click To Tweet

Learning a different way of viewing my daughter changed our relationship in a dramatic and wonderful way. In similar fashion, when we learn to see the Lord from the perspective of who He is, not for what we want Him to be or give us, our relationship with Him grows. We begin to notice Him more frequently and see Him more clearly. Even when times grow tough.

A shift in perspective makes all the difference. Abby assures us, “No matter our circumstances, we can see God in our lives—right here, right now.”

'No matter our circumstances, we can see God in our lives—right here, right now.' @abby_mcdonald7, #shiftbook #giveaway Click To Tweet

Giveaway

In Shift, Abby McDonald offers wisdom, insight, and practical suggestions into how we can more clearly see God, even in our trials, especially in our trials. She includes personal stories, a few charts, poignant pull quotes, and end-of-chapter questions for us to begin “Adjusting Our Lens.”

Abby addresses many of the difficult aspects of being a Christ follower in a broken world. I appreciate that she readily acknowledges the difficulty of keeping a right focus on and perspective of God as we wade through life’s messes. She is vulnerable in sharing some of her own failings in doing so. She also sprinkles in encouraging and honest stories from several others. 

 Shift gave me many nuggets to take away for my own life’s journey. Abby will encourage many to walk a little closer to God through this book. 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” 2 Peter 3:18 #bgbg2

Reflections: When does God seem most invisible to you? What’s one thing you might change to see Him more clearly during those times? 

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