The Big Picture

My wife and I are 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

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He Told Me Everything I Ever Did!

The story of Jesus’s conversation with the “Woman at the Well” has always fascinated me. It is not only an account of how Jesus can meet with us at our point of need, but also a model of how we can relate to others and pass on the love of Christ that we have received.

I particularly note the following:

1. He met her where she was, carrying out her everyday basic routine. Mostly such encounters will not be in a church building or at an altar call, but in the market place of life, when we least expect them.

2. Even though she wasn’t “one of them” and had every expectation to experience rejection, he showed and demonstrated total acceptance. It may be relatively easy to love someone we like. But it is a challenge to show unconditional compassion to someone on the fringes of society or someone we may even have reason to dislike. Surely, our deepest need is to be accepted?

3. He made himself vulnerable by asking her to do something for him, making her feel needed. So often we feel we have to do something to gain someone’s attention.

4. He identified with her and boldly spoke of the Good News in a way she could receive. I believe it’s a gift to be able to explain spiritual truths without compromise and without resorting to religious gobbledygook.

5. Jesus engaged and identified with her, saw what was on her heart and spoke to her ‘condition’. If we are in tune with Father and have any compassion, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what we need to know.

6. She was given new hope for the way forward and was so overwhelmed by what she heard that she went to tell others.

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” John 4:39 New International Version

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Our Reaction to Pain

There was a small boy who was given a bike for his birthday. Just what he had hoped for. He practised at home before venturing out and kept falling off at first. He was impatient to show it to his friends, so off he went. They all inspected it and gave it the thumbs up. He felt so proud because he was now one of them. It was alright at first, but then he lost control and fell off, badly scraping his knee. It hurt, but what really hurt was that they laughed at him and taunted him. When he got home he kept quiet about it and put some sticking plaster over the wound.

For several days he didn’t use his bike or play with the boys, because he didn’t want to get hurt again. His knee was painful, so he put more plaster on it and tried to forget about it. The trouble was, it got so inflamed he realised it had to be seen to. In trepidation he asked his father to see to it. He thought he would be told off, but instead, he put him on his knee, gently removed the plaster and bathed it clean, removing any grit and dirt. He then placed some special ointment on it. He felt better already. His father seemed to understand what it was all about and reassured him that it would take a while to learn to ride it properly and he would help him. “Just you wait until you show the other boys!” he said.

Isn’t this how it can be for many of us, where there is pain just below the surface. Some of us may even have a well of pain deep down that goes back a long way. We may not have been hurt physically, but may have been abused emotionally in some way, words of condemnation may have been spoken over us perhaps.

If it stays hidden it can begin to spread and fester and affect our lives in a disabling way. It can also lead us into unresolved anger or unhelpful behaviour patterns in trying to maintain the status quo. It stops us living to the full and reaching our potential. There comes a time when we know it has to be seen to.

Our heavenly Father is just waiting for us to bring it out for Him to look at. He will then put us on His knee and bathe the wound, remove the impurities and make it better. He will also give us words of encouragement to move forward.

“My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Songs 2:14 New International Version

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Being Ourselves

When I was little we had a canary that lived in a small wire cage. It fascinated me and I spent hours trying to attract its attention. I found that by making the appropriate noises or by rattling the bars of its cage, it would sing to order. Then one day, perhaps because I felt sorry for it or maybe I just wanted to get closer, I opened the door to the cage and let it out. It circled the room several times and then flew out through the open window into freedom. We never saw it again.

Much later in life, as an adult, I discovered I was a bit like that canary and would sing to order. I was trapped in a cage of meeting the expectations of others. I was afraid of speaking the truth of what was really on my heart in case I caused offence. I would agree to requests or volunteer for any work that came my way, even though it would overload me. To do otherwise and say no, would run the risk of not being liked and that was just too much. The phrase “Jack of all trades and master of none” comes to mind. I was not being true to myself or to God. Those bars had to be removed so that I was free to be myself, that unique person God had made me to be.

It can be upsetting when we realise an unhelpful or even ungodly behaviour pattern. But God only brings this to our attention when we are ready for Him to set us free. Free to be ourselves and to do the work He has already chosen for us. A work that is just right for us.

When we are God-pleasers and not man-pleasers, everyone benefits.

“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4 New International Version

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