Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.”?

It means you are so focused on what is right in front of you, the minute, the details, that you forget to look at the big picture, what’s important, why you are doing it.

In Luke 11 verses 37-54, Jesus had gone to have dinner at the home of a Pharisee, who had invited other Pharisees and Scribes (lawyers) as well.

Now you would think, as a guest, Jesus would be polite and try not to be offensive. Isn’t that what a good Christian would do?

But what we read in Luke is that Jesus did not always follow what society dictated. He broke protocol and did not perform the ritual hand washing which was done before eating the meal provided.

The Pharisee who was hosting Him was surprised by this. Did he voice his shock and revulsion, or did Jesus once again know the person’s heart attitude and speak to it?

You see the Pharisees and the Scribes, were so focused on the letter of the law and their own little corner of life, they were blind to the forest. Even though the Creator was in their midst and was beseeching them to sit back, let go and look at the whole picture of Scripture; that it was being fulfilled before their very eyes, they clung to their familiar trees: their own glory, wisdom and comforts.

Now I have to ask myself, am I like the Pharisees and Scribes? Am I so focused on my own tree, my own little corner of life that I can’t see the forest of our Creator? The great Plan? Because He has one.

It is the same plan He has always had. It hasn’t been thwarted by any person, any historical event, any catastrophe of nature or any pandemic. Nor can it be! God is Sovereign. That means what He wills happens. He is the ONLY one who knows what that plan is and how it will unfold.

The problem is we don’t like that. We like to think we have all the answers, that we know what is the best route to take, the best solution to the problems based on what we see happening to the tree we see in the mirror.

The truth of the matter is, we don’t have all the answers, God does.

I am talking to myself here as well, Sisters! I have often spouted off in reaction to the decisions of those in power or others around me because of fear, frustration or misunderstanding. I have believed I knew what was best, what the right decision or solution was only to get other information and see things differently. We all think we are right, but in reality, most of the time we are winging it. We may have statistics, education, experiences, traditions, beliefs, gut feelings, whatever, but we don’t have the wisdom of the King!

In the Bible God gave us a list of commandments but Jesus also told us which two were the most important, because those two took care of all the others.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27 NKJV

The Lord God is Sovereign and can be trusted to decide what will happen and how because,

He is Omniscient (all knowing),

Omnipotent (all powerful),

Omnipresent (present everywhere),

and Eternal.

He is the Creator of suns and galaxies, the Institutor of governments and kingdoms, rulers and authorities, CEO’s and managers, the Director of who is born, what part of the forest you will live in and when you will die. He can count the very hairs on your head, so I think He can be trusted with the details of our lives and what is going on around us.

So maybe it’s time to sit back and look at the forest and trust that God has this. We need to rest in His unfathomable wisdom and power. That doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. We pray and study His Word, for wisdom to deal with our situations with grace and love. We “spur one another on toward love and good works”. (Hebrews 10:24)

This life isn’t about magnifying our tree, or making our corner of the forest more to our liking; it’s about glorifying the Creator and pointing others toward Him. It’s His story not ours, His plan, which is always Plan A and always perfect.

Hold on my friends and TRUST…THE…LORD! He is still in control, He still loves you and He still has a purpose for your life. Love God; love others!

Be well!

Patricia