God Sees the Masterpiece
“No circumstance, person, or difficulty can stop the plans and promises of God.” — David Jeremiah
What does it mean to say that the plans of God are unstoppable? If God is good, and I know He is, why does our daily journey feel so hard? Why do we work so tirelessly to control everything we can?
On this side of eternity, I deeply love Jesus, but I often struggle to reconcile that love with the hardship I face. Fear creeps in, and I want to own my path, self-arranging to make sure things flow smoothly and outcomes match my plans. I grip tightly to every detail, trying to prevent difficulty. But here’s the truth: my fear and my striving provide no real relief.
Have you ever spent so much time trying to control an outcome that you ended up frustrated with the lack of progress? And then, when you finally reached the other side, you looked back and saw the resolution in a way you never could while you were in the trenches?
Friends, when we pause and reflect on the sovereignty of our Father, what makes us think we know better than He does? Why do we fight so hard for the limited outcome we see when we serve a God of infinite possibilities? It’s human nature, the facade of control. Yet the beauty of Jesus is this: the more we let go, the more we realize our utter lack of control. My power is an illusion, and my fear only limits my ability to trust God’s infinite goodness.
As we grow older, we mature as Christians. I don’t think maturity is about gaining wisdom as much as it is about learning to surrender. Experience teaches us that God is always good, even when we can’t see or understand His plans. If love for Jesus is at the base of our hearts, what can fear add? Nothing. True growth comes when we understand this: we need more of Him and less of us.
So what can we do? We can pray. We can lean into Jesus for guidance, peace, and discernment. Picture this: you’re staring at a stained-glass wall and can only see the color right in front of you. But God sees the entire masterpiece. Prayer is the best way we can seek clarity and build trust. Not to control, but to know the heart of our Father and to trust Him. Prayer plants the seed of faith that grows deep roots, connecting us to the One who truly holds control. Not so we can predict what’s coming, but so we can trust that whatever comes is good.
But what about the bad things that happen in this world? Jesus answered that:
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Friends, God never promised life would be easy. He actually told us the opposite. But here’s the good news: in the midst of every struggle, we can cling to the truth that He has already overcome the hardships of this world. And at the end of it all, if we simply believe and follow Him, an eternity of joy awaits us. When we lean into prayer, release our grip on control, and let God lead, we are planting seeds of faith. Those seeds grow deep roots, and where roots grow, a strong and flourishing tree will surely rise.