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We were already two hours behind schedule. The original plan had been left behind and replaced numerous times. Our hosts did their best to entertain us while we waited for the torrential rain to stop. The original plan: three families would go on a trip to a coffee plantation; the current situation: three families locked in a house waiting for what seemed like an endless tropical storm to end! I tried to approach my mother to express my frustration. Suddenly, she interrupted me with these words: “What an adventure, right? Our hosts are so nice. The food is delicious. Surely the rain will stop soon, and we will continue with our trip”. I was stunned. How could my mother have such a positive outlook on the situation? Perhaps my reflection should have been: How can I have such a pessimistic perspective on the matter? After all, we were having a good time, getting to know each other better and enjoying the coffee and the delicious sandwiches that the host family prepared for us. Not much time passed, and the rain stopped. The trip to the coffee farm ended up being one of the most memorable trips I've ever had. From that day on, I promised myself to try to see life in color and not in black and white. This is a decision that only I can make. It is not the storm or the calm what should determine our level of joy, but the attitude of gratitude with which we face each day. Let us follow the advice of the apostle Paul and be always grateful. “.. let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.” Colossians 3:15 CEV "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22 NIV © Astrid Gale

According to the dictionary, anamorphosis is any painting or drawing that offers a deformed and confused image, or a regular and finished one, depending on where you look at it from. When an artist uses this technique, he does it in such way, that the viewer cannot understand what his drawing is about right away. To see the correct image, it is necessary to change the perspective. I learned this a few days ago in an art club. It reminded me of times in my life when, not seeing things clearly, or seeing things through the lens of fear, I rushed and made poor decisions. All to conclude that it is always better to wait for God to respond to us in His time, even if it takes longer. It's all about perspective. Depending on the angle we have, our issues can appear to be messy and distorted, or they can seem to be clear and coherent. Our hope grows each time we surrender our limited human perspective, to the eternal perspective of our creator. Every time we trust Him with all our heart, our soul rests, strengthens and aligns itself to the will of God. Jackie Hill Perry, in her book "Holier Than Thou," presents a very interesting point of view about God. She says that God, being holy as he is, cannot sin against us by doing us harm. He has plans only for our good and not our bad, even when we do not understand what is happening to us. Knowing the depth of God's love for us helps us to adjust our perspective, and to relax and trust Him wholeheartedly. Perhaps that is why the Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for us: "I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us." Ephesians 3:19-21 CEB Let’s receive God's limitless love for us and leave our fears in his hands. This will give us the best perspective. After all, only He is the one who can see the whole picture. "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 GNT Prayer: "Lord, please reveal to me how much you love me and help me to know your love. Thank you for the plans you have for me, which are for my good and for your glory. Amen." © Astrid Gale

Ever since I was a child, I felt that others were stronger than me. I let myself be easily defeated because I was convinced that it was useless to resist. Time has passed and I am no longer a child, nevertheless those feelings come back to me often. Just yesterday I told my best friend how weak I felt and how I longed to be stronger. Recently, God has opened new doors and beautiful opportunities to serve him. Professionally, the possibilities also seem to multiply like rabbits! “How Lord?” I asked. "With what strength?" His response was almost immediate. The following day, I heard a teaching that blew me away. It was as if the Lord were speaking to me in person. The speaker began his message with these words: “Go with the strength you have” Judges 6:14. I knelt in my room and wept brokenly before my God. I understood then that all He needs from me is for me to go, with the strength that I have. He doesn't ask me to wait until I'm stronger; It's not in the future, it's now. It is not with the strength that I think it should have, nor with the strength of those who I consider to be stronger than me. No, it is with the strength that I have, and I will be able to do it because He is the one sending me. Today, God looks at you, just as he looked at Gideon and tells you: Go with the strength you have... and do what I have asked you to do. I am sending you! Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” Judges 6:14 NLT © Astrid Gale