By Katy Kauffman
I walked about twenty yards into the Grand Canyon with my family. The silt on the trail quickly reminded us that we weren’t natural hikers. So although we didn’t journey far, I can tell you that I have been in the Grand Canyon. Our view from the trail included the typical desert decorations—rocks, dirt, underbrush, and more dirt. But if you’ve had the privilege of gazing at the canyon from the outlooks around the rim, and taken in more of its grandeur from that vantage point (or seen the pictures), you know that the canyon is anything but typical. Beautiful doesn’t do it justice. Just as God paints sunsets in the sky every evening, it looked like He was painting the colors on the canyon walls with the sun’s setting. The angle of the sun changed the colors of the canyon. It was exquisite, breathtaking, a handiwork of God. Like our lives.
I walked about twenty yards into the Grand Canyon with my family. The silt on the trail quickly reminded us that we weren’t natural hikers. So although we didn’t journey far, I can tell you that I have been in the Grand Canyon. Our view from the trail included the typical desert decorations—rocks, dirt, underbrush, and more dirt. But if you’ve had the privilege of gazing at the canyon from the outlooks around the rim, and taken in more of its grandeur from that vantage point (or seen the pictures), you know that the canyon is anything but typical. Beautiful doesn’t do it justice. Just as God paints sunsets in the sky every evening, it looked like He was painting the colors on the canyon walls with the sun’s setting. The angle of the sun changed the colors of the canyon. It was exquisite, breathtaking, a handiwork of God. Like our lives.
We may think of our lives as ordinary or stricken with pain or grief, but if we could see them from God’s perspective, beautiful may not do them justice. God sees it all—the joy and the suffering, the dreams and missed chances, the mistakes and forgiveness. He sees how our lives have been carved by the trials and tests we have faced, much like the Grand Canyon was carved by the great flood of old. When we look at our daily routine, we may only see the ordinary or the struggles, but God sees all that’s possible if we look to Him, depend on Him for help, and follow Him. He sees the beauty along with the broken.
If we could see our lives from God’s outlook, what would we see? We would see the hope, healing, and victory that’s possible – His good purposes woven into our lives. And not just for us, but for others too.
What beautiful things is God working out of our brokenness and suffering?
If we could see our lives from God’s outlook, what would we see? We would see the hope, healing, and victory that’s possible – His good purposes woven into our lives. And not just for us, but for others too.
What beautiful things is God working out of our brokenness and suffering?
1. Amazing good (Romans 8:28; Psalm 34:10, 84:11, 119:68; Genesis 50:20)
2. Stronger character (Rom 5:3-4; James 1:2-4)
3. Braver faith (Mark 9:23-24)
4. More opportunities to bless people (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
5. A knowledge of God that we would not have otherwise (Ps 94:19, 116:7-8; Job 38:1-42:5--
what Job learned)
6. A certainty that God is enough (Ps 73:26, 9:10; 2 Timothy 4:16-17)
7. A testimony of God’s help and works (John 9:1-7, especially v.3)
If we saw our trials from God’s perspective, what resources would we see available to us?
1. Grace proportionate to our need and pain (2 Cor 12:9)
2. A peace that God will turn this into good (Philippians 4:7)
3. Strength to do our best each day (Phil 4:13)
4. Wisdom for how to move forward (James 1:5)
A changed perspective comes from taking in the Word of God, which shows us the truths, promises, and love of God. So don’t give up hope. God is working beauty out of our brokenness, hope out of our shattered dreams, and peace out of our turmoil. Allow God to paint the colors of love, strength, and victory onto your soul, and stand in awe of what He can do on your behalf. Stay close to Him, see your life from His outlook, and watch Him complete His handiwork.
© Copyright 2014 by Katy Kauffman
© Copyright 2014 by Katy Kauffman
Katy Kauffman is the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. She is the author of 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory which shares how to win the spiritual battles of life and ministry. Her heart’s desire is to help people find the strength, hope, and love in God that will see them through life’s struggles and battles. Katy is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word.
You can check out Katy’s devotions and Bible study posts on her blog, Life with God, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Connect with Katy:
2 Timothy: Winning the Victory – http://www.amazon.com/Katy-Kauffman/e/B00FIT3YQA/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Life with God – http://lighthousebiblestudies.com/katy-kauffman-blog
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KatyKauffmanAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/KatyKauffman28
You can check out Katy’s devotions and Bible study posts on her blog, Life with God, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Connect with Katy:
2 Timothy: Winning the Victory – http://www.amazon.com/Katy-Kauffman/e/B00FIT3YQA/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Life with God – http://lighthousebiblestudies.com/katy-kauffman-blog
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KatyKauffmanAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/KatyKauffman28
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