My counselor recently shared an interesting insight with me. She said there are three sides to every story. Yours, theirs, and what actually happened.

We filter so much through our own experiences that we often get a little skewed on reality.

I’d take it a step further and say there’s your side, my side, and God’s side – the truth. His perspective. He sees all and knows all. He sees what you think happened, what the other person thinks took place, and what really actually occurred.

I thought of a triangle – three sides, but also three angles. I think maybe God’s corner is elevated a bit. After all, He’s seated on the throne; He has a better view, a higher perspective.

So what if instead of planting our feet in our corner of the triangle with our version of the story, we tried another angle? Whether we humble ourselves and put our feet in the shoes of the other person, or see things from God’s angle… sometimes we just need a little perspective (and a whole lot of grace).

God longs for unity and love to mark our interactions. His desire is that we would reflect His heart to a lost world.

How we live matters. How we walk matters. As Christians we are called to be representatives of Jesus, ambassadors of His reconciliation. We are following His footsteps, His example.

How we persevere matters. Our not giving up matters. How we endure matters.

I love God’s heart in Luke 18:1 – “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” He wants us to stay connected to Him and to keep going.

The world is watching, longing to catch a glimpse of God’s glory, His unfailing love, His radiant light shining through us. We are conduits, vessels, messengers of His grace.

Our faith is in the unseen, not the things we see all around us. Our hope is in Him – our hope is Him.

God didn’t bring us this far to leave us, desert us or defeat us. He didn’t carry us to this part of our journey to forsake us and unmake us.

He is with us. No matter what. And He loves us. No matter what.

“Small steps can be hard work. In such times, staying in the struggle (instead of giving up) is the victory.” – Dr. Alicia Britt Chole

I’ve seen this. I’ve lived this. The enemy would love for us to give up, throw in the towel, isolate, and distance ourself from the struggle.

But sometimes, if we’ll lean into God and not give up, if we’ll receive His love and extend it to those closest to us… we’ll step into sacred spaces and see His strength overwhelm our weakness.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; the will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31