Forests and Trees

Have you heard that saying about not being able to see the forest for the trees? Most of the time it is used to talk about someone who is so fixed on what is right in front of them that they are not seeing the big picture. That happens to all of us at one time or another.

Sometimes life comes at you with one thing after another after another and it can get a little overwhelming. Sometimes a lot overwhelming. You can get so focused on the day-to-day stuff that you forget there is a big picture to life.

But the flip side can be true, too. Sometimes we are so fixated on the big goal that we fail to see the little blessings that come our way every day. The cool thing about God is that He sees the forest AND the trees! He wants us to focus on both. We need to keep the end goal in mind, the big picture. But we need to also take time to look at each tree and see the beauty it has for us. Yes, sometimes that tree has just fallen onto the road right in front of you, but maybe there is something there that you can find that is good. Thank God in all things. Not FOR all things, but in the middle of the yuck you can rejoice that God is there with you and He will preserve you in all your ways. We ultimately win. Jesus won the victory over death, hell, and the grave. We get the privilege of enforcing that here on the Earth. Is it always easy? No. But if you look at each tree, you will find some beauty there somewhere.

As I look back over my life even in the times that were uncomfortable and hard, there are things that I am thankful for. I’m not thankful that they were uncomfortable or hard, but I am thankful that I learned that I could lean fully and completely on God. That I can know that I know that I know He is faithful, and He will be all that I need in any situation.