September 27, 2022
When You Can’t See What God is Doing
Katy McCown
Today’s Truth
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (Psalm 138:8 ESV).
Friend to Friend
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it would turn out this beautiful. I stared in amazement and kept coming back for another look. A tear may have even formed in the corner of my eye.
What I viewed seemed like a masterpiece to me.
This masterpiece was a family picture. Only a few weeks before, I had given birth to our baby girl. We positioned a small, white sofa in the middle of a field of green grass. We brushed our hair and dressed in coordinating colors. Reds, blues and creams brushed across the autumn background of our very first photo as a family of eight.
That alone was enough to make this photo special, but what really made this photo special is something only my family knew.
For example, only we witnessed the moment our 3-year old laid herself out on the floor of the kitchen because she didn’t like the big red bow in her hair … or the dress it matched; and only we ran to the rescue when our toddling son met up with a pile of ants on his way through the cascading green grass. We picked each tiny photo-buster off one-by-one, then positioned ourselves in the cascading grass and for the briefest of moments said cheeeeesssseeeee.
Yet there I was, without a hint of the chaotic memories that unfolded before we snapped the picture. Instead, I was lost in a moment I never wanted to forget. There was only one possible explanation for this … an artist.
The photographer we chose for the tall order of getting eight people (six of whom were below the age of eight) to look the same way at the same time, all the while displaying a pleasant expression wasn’t just anyone. She was a woman who knew us well, and she knew how to make it work.
Today’s Truth tells us about a master artist. One who knows us, and knows how to make our lives a masterpiece, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (Psalm 138:8 ESV). One translation writes the first part of Today’s Truth like this, “The Lord will work out his plans for my life.” It conveys the idea that God will not leave His work unfinished. He will not suddenly stop or break off what He has begun.
When we look around and life feels messy, it can be hard to believe God is working out His plans for our lives. If you’re like me, sometimes it feels like God is at work, and sometimes it feels painfully quiet. The author of this Psalm, David, knew these feelings well. Other psalms David penned included pleas for God to hear him and questions about his current circumstances. No matter what the lens of our perspective shows us, Today’s Truth tells us why we can be sure God will fulfill His purposes for us: His faithful love continues forever.
Today, if all you can see appears to be going wrong — if it feels like you’re walking away from God’s plans for you instead of walking in them or towards them — remember, when we can’t see how God is at work, we can still trust He’s working out His plans.
For most people who viewed our family photo, they only saw the smiling faces nestled together as one big family on a bright, white couch. We knew what it took to get there. Just like our family photo, there may be bumps and ant bites along the way, but God still sees the masterpiece He began, and He will fulfill His purposes for us.
How can the promise of God’s steadfast love help you trust Him in your circumstances today? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, I know You can see things I can’t see. Thank You for writing my story. Fulfill Your purposes for me, and help me trust You even when I can’t see how You are working out Your plans for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Has there been a moment in your life where you could look back and see how God’s purposes were fulfilled?
Take a moment to record some of the circumstances you remember and how you witnessed God’s steadfast love. Thank God for what He has done in your life and keep your notes nearby. The next time you find yourself wondering about what God is doing, read what you wrote and let it remind you of His continuous love.
More from the Girlfriends
Katy would love to help you trade fear of the future for God’s purposes in the present with a free resource of 7 Prayers to Help You Smile without Fear. Click here to receive this free download today.
© 2022 by Katy McCown. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 27 September 2022.
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