The Big Picture

My wife is part of a lovely encouraging art group in our village. Each year they decide upon a painting by a well known artist and produce a sort of large mural, for display at the annual art exhibition.

The person who has the master copy, divides it up into tiny rectangles and gives one to each participating member. They then go away and copy it onto a large piece of pre-measured paper, in whatever painting medium suits them. The picture this year depicts friends around a table, sharing a meal together. Any one portion being worked upon may have only part of a face or a hand or some tableware, so each artist may be in the dark as to how it fits in with the rest of the picture. It's not until several weeks later, when all the pieces are brought back and fitted together, does the final big picture emerge.

I think this can be how it is in life. We may wonder at times where we are heading and be unsure what the future holds for us. Life can even feel like being in a fog. But we cannot go wrong if we stay close to Jesus and obey Him day by day. God sorts out all the pieces of our lives and of others, then brings them all together at the right time. This applies whether it's short term or even for eternity. We can rest in the knowledge that Father has everything in hand.

Only God sees the Big Picture. Only He knows what's around the next bend. We can trust Him with our future.

"He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does." Ecclesiastes 3:11

"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 - both Good News Bible