Trusting God with the Bigger Picture

Photo image courtesy Pixabay

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” -- Ecclesiastes 3:11

I’ve been looking at old family photos lately, scrolling through snapshots that document the years my sons spent growing from boys into men. From birthdays to moments at the beach, first bike rides to graduations, the images paint a true picture of a beautiful, blessed life. 

But, of course, pictures don’t tell the whole story. Looking at one long-ago birthday photo reminded me of the financial stress we were under at the time, and how my prayers for a birthday present for my son were answered in the form of a Craigslist listing. Someone sold us their son’s Batman toys for a fraction of their worth, and our boy couldn’t have been more delighted at his gifts.

Another photo shows beloved colleagues gathered together on a work trip, joyfully grateful for the good work we were getting to do together. Only months later, major shifts shook up the team, and I choose to embark on a new, unknown path.

A more recent image of my sister’s wedding captures our smiling family gathered together in January 2020. We now consider this timing miraculous, as the COVID pandemic was about to shut down the world, and it would be the last time we were all able to be together before we lost my dad. 

In the book of 1 Samuel, the prophet Samuel set up a monument to acknowledge God’s hand in success after a battle. Verse 7:10 reads, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”” 

I’ve come to think of my photos as my own small Ebenezers. In addition to capturing beautiful moments, they are reminders of our family’s journey; a journey that has not been without our own battles. The smiling me in the photos did not know what the future held—none of us have that ability, and I doubt we’d want it if we did. But the God who placed the stars knows. No matter what road our family traveled, I felt the presence of Jesus alongside us. He’s always been with my, guiding me forward every step of the way. 

These glimpses back through the lens of time remind me that while I can’t always see God’s hand in the moment, I can trust Him with the bigger picture. The beauty of trusting God is not in knowing how the story will unfold, but in knowing the One who holds it all. Gratitude helps me remember that He has never failed me yet—and He won’t start now.

Question for Reflection 

1. As you look back on your own journey, can you name a moment when God’s presence became clear in hindsight—even if it wasn’t obvious at the time?

2. What “Ebenezer stones” (memories, photos, journal entries, or answered prayers) might you revisit today to remind your heart that the One who helped you then is still with you now?