HE SEES WHAT WE DON'T...

Mark 6:45-51
    Many of us remember reading about the blind men who described the elephant, each describing a different part, gained his perspective from that particular appendage. The one who examined the tail concluded that the elephant was like a rope, the one who touched the legs came away with the idea that an elephant was like a tree, etc.  While each man had a proper understanding of the elephant in part, none had a complete picture because each lacked the full picture...each perception came from their individual perspective.
     Life is like that. We make conclusions about the whole, based on our particular perspective of the events and circumstances in which we find ourselves. Perspective, by definition means the perception one has from a particular point of view. This means we will frame our beliefs, actions and opinions on the information we receive.
      We do not always "see things" as do others because of our perspective. In the above Scripture text, the disciples in the boat saw the raging storm, but they could not see Jesus from where they were. At the same time, He could see them from where He was. Jesus had a different perspective from the mountain than did the disciples from the midst of the storm.
      In short, He sees that which we don't. When we see life's situations from our perspective, we don't have all the information. The prophet Isaiah wrote, " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9) KJV
       Because God sees what we don't, we must learn to trust Him at all times, not just the dark and stormy seasons. This is called "faith". Learning to trust God in and through all circumstances, especially when we don't have all the answers to our questions is a process. The success of this process requires experience and experience teaches perspective. We cannot get the whole picture if, in our blindness, we insist on seeing from only our own perspective.
      The fine line that sometimes exists between faith and foolishness comes from perspective. Whether we are in the midst of one of the storms of life or experiencing calm weather, learning to see through God's perspective will increase our faith in Him Who sees what we don't.
        In the midst of his storm, Job remembered, "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."  Job 23:10 KJV. The prophet Nahum surmised, "...the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." KJV

God knows what He is doing, He sees what we don't...trust Him!

German hymnwriter, Katharina von Schlegel gave us the words to Be Still, My Soul. Translated into English by Jane L. Borthwick in 1855, it was published in Hymns From the Land of Luther.  It can likely be found in your church hymnal, so why not give it a go today, remembering today's devotional thoughts with A Song of Praise?