The Bigger Picture

On my way to work today, I got a fright. A truck was rolling – backwards – down an off-ramp into merging traffic. My heart leapt as I rounded the curve that was partially obstructing my view. As I was able to get a better look, the truth of the event became clear. The truck was, indeed, backwards. It was sitting backwards on the flatbed of a big tow truck, which was merging safely into traffic. I had not been able to see the tow truck from my earlier view, but it was obvious when I could observe the situation from a proper perspective. What I thought was a dangerous, harmful event was nothing more than an everyday inconvenience.

It made me think of events in the recent past that initially frightened and hurt me. Yet, when I look back on them, they really weren’t that big of a deal. I had made a bigger issue of them because I did not have a proper perspective on the events as they happened. Just as I was frightened at that backwards-moving truck, I can let inconvenient events scare me if I don’t look at them through the lens given to us by Christ. All those difficult moments serve to refine us, to mature us. It can be hard to remember when we are feeling attacked or unappreciated, but it all works "together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. It is a promise from God to us. We are free to lift up our fears and hurts to God and trust Him with the outcome.

Of course, that is often easier said than done. Trusting God when you are facing a challenge is a big step for those of us who like to know how we are going to safely come out of a difficult time. All I can say is pray. I love how Phil 4:7 is stated in The Message:

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.

Isn’t that cool? When a situation looks bleak and we’re not sure what to do, we can shape our worries into prayers. God can take it from there. May He bless your day!