Power of Perspective
- Henley Samuel
- Jan 13
- 5 min read
January 13, 2026
Today, let's journey together into a powerful truth that can transform how you view your current circumstances. Sometimes life feels like everything is working against us, but God wants to show you that what appears dead or lost is very much alive in His hands.
When Everything Seems Lost
Have you ever felt like Jacob in Genesis 42?
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” - Genesis 42:36
He cried out in desperation, saying all his losses had come against him. Joseph was gone, Simeon was missing, and now they wanted to take Benjamin too. In that moment, Jacob felt completely overwhelmed, convinced that life was systematically stripping away everything he held dear.
Perhaps you're in a similar place this morning. Maybe you've lost your job, faced betrayal after betrayal, or watched opportunities slip through your fingers like sand. You might feel like every door is closing, every relationship is failing, and every dream is crumbling. The evidence before your eyes seems to confirm your worst fears.
But here's what Jacob didn't know in his moment of despair: Joseph was not only alive but had been elevated to the highest position in Egypt. While Jacob mourned what he thought was lost forever, God was orchestrating the greatest comeback story of his family's history.
The Spirit That Revives
"When they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived." - Genesis 45:27
Notice what happened when Jacob received the truth about Joseph's situation. His spirit didn't just improve; it revived. The Hebrew word suggests a complete restoration of life and vitality. What had been dormant, depressed, and defeated suddenly came alive again.
This is what God wants to do in your life today. The dreams you thought were buried, the promises you believed were broken, the opportunities you assumed were gone forever - they're all waiting for revival in God's presence.
God never gives up on what He has called you to, even when you've given up on yourself.
Breaking Free from Depression's Grip
Jacob had been in mourning for years. Genesis 37 tells us he tore his clothes, dressed in sackcloth, and refused to be comforted. He declared he would go to his grave mourning for his son.
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. - Genesis 37:34-35
Depression had become his identity, and grief had become his permanent address.
Some of you have been living in that same emotional prison. Past experiences have convinced you that joy is impossible, that breakthrough is a fantasy, and that God has forgotten your name. You've worn the sackcloth of disappointment so long that you've forgotten what hope feels like.
But God is the God of all comfort, as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:3:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." - 2 Corinthians 1:3
He doesn't want you to remain in the prison of your past experiences. Your yesterday's pain shouldn't steal today's joy. The God who comforts us in all our troubles is calling you out of that emotional bondage.
The Power of Perspective
Jacob's problem wasn't his circumstances; it was his perspective. He was thinking through his flesh instead of through faith. He declared Joseph dead when Joseph was very much alive. He saw loss where God saw positioning. He saw endings where God saw new beginnings.
What you believe can stop the promise of God, but what you see cannot.
This is why repentance is so crucial. Biblical repentance means changing the way you think. Stop thinking negatively about your situation. Stop declaring death over what God has called to life. Stop agreeing with the false evidence that appears real.
Instead, think through God's perspective. Even when things look like they're working against you, remember that you serve a God who specializes in turning tables. He's the God who can change bad to good, mourning to dancing, and ashes to beauty.
Nothing Is Lost in God's Presence
Here's the truth that will set you free: nothing is lost in the presence of God. Nothing is broken. Nothing is missing. Nothing is lacking. While you've been mourning what you thought was dead, God has been working behind the scenes to position you for promotion.
Just as Joseph was being prepared for his moment of revelation, your breakthrough is being orchestrated in ways you cannot see. The very experiences that seemed to destroy you were actually developing you. The pit that looked like your end was actually your preparation for the palace.
"It is enough! Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die." - Genesis 45:28
When Jacob finally understood the truth, he didn't need lengthy explanations or detailed proof. He simply said, "It is enough." Sometimes all we need is one word from God to revive our spirit and restore our hope.
Conclusion
Today, let your spirit be revived. Whatever you thought was dead in your life - your dreams, your health, your relationships, your calling - declare that it is still alive. God is the faithful God who keeps His word. He's not the God who leaves you halfway through your journey.
The same God who elevated Joseph from the pit to the palace is working in your life right now. Your current chapter is not your final chapter. Your present struggle is not your permanent situation. What looks like an ending is actually a new beginning in disguise.
Reflect on This
What dreams or promises have you given up on that God might be calling you to revive?
How can you shift your perspective from seeing loss to seeing God's positioning in your current circumstances?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are the God who never gives up. I repent for thinking wrongly about my situation and for agreeing with false evidence. I declare that what I thought was dead is still alive in Your hands. Revive my spirit, ignite my faith, and help me see my circumstances through Your eyes. I believe that nothing is lost, nothing is broken, and nothing is missing in Your presence. Thank You for the comfort and hope that comes from knowing You are working all things together for my good. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Key Takeaways
God never gives up on His promises, even when we give up on ourselves.
What appears dead or lost may actually be alive and positioned for breakthrough.
Depression and past experiences should not define our present joy or future hope.
Changing our perspective from flesh to faith is essential for receiving God's promises.
Nothing is truly lost in the presence of God; everything can be revived and restored.
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To dive deeper into this powerful message, watch the full sermon on our YouTube video below.
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