In the book, When God Weeps, Joni Eareckson Tada writes an illustration of God's control and plan for the world. She explains it's like a beautiful mosaic – when we only see one little piece of glass, God see's the whole picture. Each and every piece is the perfect size and color, though we don't think what's happening fits. With God's plan, He gets the glory by seeing it from a different perspective. A masterpiece!
In the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah (a prophet) writes to the Israelites that have been exiled to Babylon. He says in chapter 29:11-14, "For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration —“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from (HCSB).”
In the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah (a prophet) writes to the Israelites that have been exiled to Babylon. He says in chapter 29:11-14, "For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration —“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord ’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from (HCSB).”
As Jeremiah writes God's words to God's chosen people, He encourages them that God's plan is bigger than their circumstance. Exiled from the land God had promised them, one could imagine their feelings of insignificance. He didn't forget them; He brought them to a place they would finally be humble and listen to Him. God loves them still and asks them to trust Him, seek him, and he will restore them.
We can be stuck in our own limited perspective of our lives. Sometimes our plan is not God's plan. When this happens, we begin to feel like we are insignificant to God, or that we must have not been as close to God as we thought we were, or if there is a plan at all. God's Word tells us in Matthew 10:30, "But even the hairs of your head have all been counted (HCSB)." He knows you and loves you. He has a purpose. Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 7:23, "You were bought at a price...(HCSB)." Why would He sacrifice His own son, Jesus Christ, for you if you were not special? He has a plan for your life that will glorify that sacrifice though you. The question is will you let go and let Him humble you so you will trust Him? Maybe what seems to be an undesirable circumstance is an opportunity to grow closer to Him. Just like the Israelites' exile must have seemed a terrible plan or if there was a plan at all, God knew it would draw them closer to Him. They would begin to seek Him and obey. It was all a part of God's bigger plan from a view that has the end in mind.
We can be stuck in our own limited perspective of our lives. Sometimes our plan is not God's plan. When this happens, we begin to feel like we are insignificant to God, or that we must have not been as close to God as we thought we were, or if there is a plan at all. God's Word tells us in Matthew 10:30, "But even the hairs of your head have all been counted (HCSB)." He knows you and loves you. He has a purpose. Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 7:23, "You were bought at a price...(HCSB)." Why would He sacrifice His own son, Jesus Christ, for you if you were not special? He has a plan for your life that will glorify that sacrifice though you. The question is will you let go and let Him humble you so you will trust Him? Maybe what seems to be an undesirable circumstance is an opportunity to grow closer to Him. Just like the Israelites' exile must have seemed a terrible plan or if there was a plan at all, God knew it would draw them closer to Him. They would begin to seek Him and obey. It was all a part of God's bigger plan from a view that has the end in mind.
You are a piece that fits and essential to complete a work of art. Try looking at your life from God's perspective. You may not understand it or see it like He does, but you can trust he is creating you to be a part of a beautiful mosaic. Let go and trust Him.
"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)
"God, thank you for loving me even though I mess up. Thank you for having a better plan for me than I know. I let go and trust your plan. I will seek you and follow you with my whole heart."
© Carol Outhous Jones 2014
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