Holy Week Thoughts – Keeping My Eyes on the Big Picture

By

“Keep your eyes on the big picture,” was the advice I heard a pastor say this week. I needed that reminder.
This has NOT been a pleasant week for me. When the life gets complicated, schedules and plans shred apart, and too many commitments spill out from my too little time, my survivor mode kicks in. I withdraw into self-pity, self-centeredness, and lots of whiny “why me” self-talk.
Not the way I really want to live and to be honest I don’t think the way God wants us to live either.  I cling to my self-centeredness instead of dwelling in Christ-centeredness.
My episode of feeling sorry for myself pales in comparison to what Jesus suffered the week before His crucifixion. His threshold point in the Garden, giving up His will into God’s hands, reminds me that Jesus too kept His eyes on the big picture.
Jesus didn’t hang onto self-pity; He clung to Love.
Jesus said not my will, but God’s.
Jesus knew to keep His eyes on the big picture  – God.
God is the big picture. With God’s perspective, we focus on love, life and living, not self-accomplishments, personal priorities, and my what’s in it for me mentality. 
I know I will face bad days again, but I need to let go of my hurt ego and look up to God, keeping my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrew 12:2). 
Reminds me of a Corrie ten Boom saying:
When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.

So I will trade in my self-pity for trust in God and rest in His love.
I will continuously pray – Your will, not mine.
I hope I will focus more on Him, the big picture from now on (or at least until I forget again and need a gentle reminder.)
And I will pray this Holy Week and every week, for the Lord to open my eyes and help me see what really matters – His Big Picture.

Share this post:

Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn

Comments

  1. blankJean Wise says

    Thank you for all your comments. Interesting as my week continue to be full of stress and upheaval, I found myself rereading my own post!

    Jesus didn’t hang onto self-pity; He clung to Love!

    This statement lingers in my heart….

  2. blankKaren says

    Jeanie, I think this Holy week is a good time for that reminder for all of us! It’s natural to feel that way at times. I thank the Lord He provided a way of deliverance for us.

    Happy Easter!

  4. blankPhather Phil Malmstrom says

    Amen, Amen and Amen Jean! It becomes so easy for us to get mired down in the cares of this world and everyday life and miss out on the splendor of the “Big Picture” that God has laid out for us.

    Thank you for the reminder!

    Have a Blessed Day!

  5. blankConnie Arnold says

    Thanks for sharing the great post, Jean. It’s so important to always keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Only God can see completely the big picture, and we can only trust.

  7. blankLaura@OutnumberedMom says

    I think many of us have had that “I think I suffer?” moment this week. (It’s good for me!)

    I once heard a pastor say, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” I kept thinking that as I read the beginning of this post.

    Thanks, Jeanie.