My first meeting with a new client was happening soon, so I did what we all do—went to my closet to look for just the right outfit.  Ok, I’ll confess, the pants didn’t matter so much, since we were meeting on Zoom (gotta feel sorry for sellers of lower-body-wear in these pandemic times)! 

But the shirt—that had to be perfect—just the right statement of professional without appearing haughty or intimidating for a younger-generation client, and, of course (at least for me), comfortable, suitable for current weather.

I had just the perfect one in mind, so thankful to own it.  Only one problem—I couldn’t find it!  First glancing, then searching, then moving clothes on their hangers one by one slowly, carefully… then zipping them all back the other direction—as though moving faster would help me find it?!

All to no avail. Don’t tell me you haven’t done all this before—especially when time is running out! 

But hope wasn’t lost.  We have a guestroom closet—that place where our grown son’s clothes and my other-season clothes are kept.  Aren’t extra closets a blessing? 

So I calmed my heart and went to look there.  Same routine.  Still no just-right shirt.  Uh oh.  Taking a deep breath I returned to the main closet.  Now what?

That’s when I discovered something I’d forgotten about before—this narrow closet has TWO racks—a lower and an upper—too maximize the space.  All I needed to do was LOOK UP!  Sure enough, there was the sought-after shirt.

Not only did I find the shirt in time for my new-client session, the Lord also reminded me of a vital truth:

We find what we truly need by looking up!

Sometimes we look for the wrong things.  Sometimes we don’t know what we really need, and go searching for things that don’t satisfy, or that only bring temporary satisfaction, leaving us let down again before long. 

That causes a lot of frustration and disappointment, and often more frantic searching for more wrong things.  That kind of vicious cycle eventually leads to depression or denial or both.

Other times, especially if we’re worn out by those dead-end searches, we settle.  We decide it’s not worth searching at all.  If we really do have what we need, that’s great.  Don’t look any farther or become restless. 

But don’t confuse contentment with resignation or complacency.  Contentment is that peaceful, joyful, sense and realization that all is as it should be and needs to be. 

Resignation, however, is just giving up because we’ve decided we’ll never get what we need, so it’s no use trying.  With that comes the mental gymnastics of convincing ourselves to not feel disappointed so we don’t keep feeling bad.

Or maybe we settle for less because of complacency.  We don’t search for better because it’s not worth the bother in our minds.  We mistakenly think “this is as good as it gets”.  Like the children C.S. Lewis referred to who refuse to leave playing in their mud puddle to go with their parents to the beach for holiday.  They’ve never seen the sea, so don’t believe it’s there.

Then there’s those times when we really are searching for the right thing.  We realize what we really need and won’t give up until we find it.  Things like:  

~Close, loving, relationships

~Meaningful impact in this world

~Character growth and maturity

~Positive influence on society

~Ultimately, anything of eternal benefit for ourselves and others, starting now.

All so wonderful and vital for our lives!  All even better than the right outfit for the right meeting! 

All found by looking UP.  So what does that mean?

1. Not looking down— not having a pessimistic view of life or the future.  Not settling for less due to lack of trust in the Lord’s power or goodness, or thinking we’re unworthy of His love.

–How to avoid this—trust Him.  Be assured that He always intends the best for us, and will fulfill that. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares  the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jer. 29:11

2. Not looking backward, behind us— not pondering the past to the point of getting stuck in either the failure or success.  Not refusing positive change into our lives, due to fear, hurt, bitterness, or even “resting on our laurels”.

–We avoid this by not dwelling on what happened before, but instead pressing on ahead:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:13-14

“’Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?…’” Is. 43:18-19 

3. Not looking sideways—not letting those around us or the world in general dictate our beliefs, values, or priorities, or self-esteem.  When we do this, we’re letting other people decide who we should be, what we should become, what we should do and say, etc. Do we really want to be slaves to other people, especially when their judgment is faulty and they change their minds a lot?

–We avoid this by: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom. 12:1-2

4. Not looking inward—not just deciding for ourselves what we need, what’s right, or what’s best. Our own judgment is often as faulty as anyone else’s is.  Human nature causes selfish and unwise decision making. As for “follow your heart”, don’t do this!  Because–

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”  Jer. 17:9

5. Instead, looking up to the Lord— for guidance, provision, fulfillment, growth, and all that good mentioned above.

–“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Mat.6:33. 

Note—it doesn’t say “…and then go do whatever it takes to get what you need.”  It says, in effect, “When we take care of His business, He takes care of ours!”  And we get the better deal, because He does a much better job!

So, whether it’s the right clothes in the right closet, or seeking fulfillment of the right goals in the right place, keep looking up!