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Thursday Thoughts: The Big Picture

Have you ever seen a close-up photo of an object, but you couldn't identify what the object was until seeing another, more-zoomed-out photo?  
Of course, with the blurriness of this photo, it's no wonder it is unrecognizable.

Do you recognize the yellow middle section of this flower?



Our lives are much like the zoomed-in photos; we might not recognize our beauty or purpose until we take a step back. 

Several recent conversations I've had and events I've been involved in have reminded me that God sees the big picture.  No matter how blurry or strange we think our life is, He knows our inherent worth.  He can make sense out of our seemingly muddled lives.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Often, we might only see the beginning of the path, but that is enough.  

"Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and step into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two.”--Boyd K. Packer

As we take that step or two, the next little bit then is illuminated, and we will find ourselves being led in the way we should go.  In retrospect, we can see clearly.

Being able to disengage from the minutiae and trust that the big picture is beautiful, gives us strength to endure.   The following video shows that calmness can come even during difficult situations:



  
I do believe that not only are we living in a difficult time, we are also living in a time where many resources are available to help us.  Medical and technological advances provide life-saving measures and relief to many.  Still, many also experience problems that are long-lasting or out of their control, even with the best of care.  It is during those times that remembering that my view is limited helps me remain positive.

What helps you make sense of difficult circumstances?
  

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Thanks for perspective.

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Comments

  1. Only my faith helps me make sense of the difficulties I experience as well as the tragedies that occur in everyday life. Everything has a purpose and in God's time, I will see that purpose.

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  2. A beautiful flower photo to illustrate your point. It is true. We can't see the big picture while we are in the muddle of the little picture. Great reminder, Kristi.

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  3. Beautiful post. It's a wonderful reminder. Thank you.

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  4. Lovely flower picture and lovely words. I really liked the video too.

    I'm not so much faith based, and I'm not sure what exactly keeps me calm during difficult situations. Oddly the more serious, the better I seem to handle it? Where as using an ATM machine for the first time to deposit money can cause my anxiety to rocket off the charts.

    I agree we seem to be living in difficult/troubling times. Seeing the bigger picture isn't so easy when you're in the thick of it.

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

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  5. Beautiful flower and beautiful post. Family is what gets me through the hard stuff and I am thankful to have them so close.

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  6. Interesting post....very thought provoking. My husband and I have been married 49 years now and have always based everything we do on our faith in God and in each other. This week, as we were traveling, we had a flat on our camper.....on a busy interstate. He panicked saying, "What am I going to do?" over and over. I talked to calmly, told him to pull into the right lane, take the off ramp, pull into a parking lot. Later he told me thank you for calming him down but it's what we do for each other. I have esophogeal spasms and when they hit I feel as if I can't breathe. He speaks calmly reminding me to breathe through my nose and forget my throat. When two are linked together one can be strong when the other is weak, and vice versa. I think that's one of the great gifts God gives to us in marriage. blessings, marlene

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