By Rochelle Hullett*

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13, NASB).

FIRST-PERSON: RICHMOND, Va.–Perspective – Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines it as “a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, especially one that shows them in their true relations to one another.”

This one word, perspective, has made a profound impact on our lives since returning to the states at the end of May.

For the past three years, we’ve lived with an Asian perspective of life. This perspective has been filled with suffering. We’ve comforted a brother in Christ who had broken ribs from being beaten. We’ve huddled with our children under their bed when bombs rocked our house. We’ve given money and food to the poor and disabled who have come to our home begging. We’ve visited hospitals where there were no windows and not enough beds for all the patients. We’ve held the hands of, sung and prayed with a believer whose body was nothing more than a skeleton due to destruction from cancer. And we’ve shared the Gospel with and looked into the faces of those who at the end of their lives went to face an eternity in hell, separated forever from their Creator. For three years, we lived in this world – a world of suffering – and it took its toll.

We, too, found ourselves looking at life from a suffering perspective. Along with the millions of suffering people around us, we often thought of our own sufferings – the incessant mosquitoes, enduring unknown sicknesses without reliable medical care, comforting our children and each other when homesickness was so strong we could hardly breathe, thinking our children were missing out on all of life’s pleasures like a social life and sports.

Through it all, God has comforted and encouraged us that He knows what’s best. We’ve trusted Him in that and claimed that promise over and over, but, oh, how we were looking forward to a break at the end of May 2009.

We arrived in Virginia to the open arms of many family and friends waiting at the airport. We were looking forward to having an American perspective for a while. We were looking forward to freedom! – freedom to be ourselves, freedom to wear clothes and our hair how we felt most comfortable, freedom to drive, freedom for the children who would now have a yard to play in and many social opportunities. The freedom to succeed seemed to be all around us – no beggars or mold-covered buildings, just clean streets, open roads, well-kept houses and businesses, churches every few miles, people wearing matching clothing and driving nice cars.

The differences in the two perspectives, and essentially the two cultures, are honestly shocking. I guess that’s why they call it culture shock and reverse culture shock when you travel between the two. It’s basically a suffering perspective contrasted with a freedom perspective.

We’ve found since we’ve been back that when we’re immersed in either culture, seeing God’s perspective in daily life is a struggle. Even though the cultures are very different, we’ve found that, for us, the struggle is the same. We don’t naturally have God’s perspective no matter where we are or what our circumstances. We realize that only by viewing life and all its complexities through God’s perspective can we see things in their true relation to one another. We must be diligent to seek the Lord daily in prayer and reading His Word and listen closely to the Holy Spirit. Only then can we view life from God’s perspective.

It is our sincere hope, prayer and goal for our family that wherever we are, in whatever circumstance, we as a family will rely on Jesus Christ to be our strength and to give us the correct perspective we need. Whether we’re surrounded by suffering in South Asia or by success in America, we want always to seek and rely on the One who created us and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

We’d like to challenge you to think about what perspective you have and what you rely on for your strength. If it’s not Jesus, we encourage you to seek to have a personal relationship with Him. If you already have a personal relationship with Him, we encourage you to believe that God only wants His best for you. We pray that you will have the courage to trust Him in every aspect of your life.

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*Name changed.

Rochelle Hullett and her husband, Archer,* recently served in South Asia through the International Service Corps. They and their children hope to return to service in South Asia early next year.