A Complete Picture

Bible Reading: James 1:2-4

“What part should I do next?” Sally asked as she and her brother worked together on a paint-by-number picture.

“Why don’t you work on the brown bear?” Jameson suggested.

Sally made a face. “Brown is too dark and boring. I like the brighter colors better. I know! I’ll make the bear purple instead.”

Jameson shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He dipped his brush in the green paint and continued filling in the trees and bushes.

When they’d finished painting all the sections, Jameson held up the picture so they could look at it. “It looks, um, well…”

“Weird,” Sally finished for him. “It doesn’t look real at all.”

“Yeah,” Jameson said. “The purple bear doesn’t really match the rest of the painting.”

“I guess that’s why the instructions said to paint it brown,” Sally said. “I’d thought it’d be too dark, but the picture needs it just as much as the other colors to make it look really good.”

Mom came over to take a look. “You know, kids, life is a lot like this picture.”

Sally and Jameson looked at the picture and then at Mom. “What do you mean?” Jameson asked.

“Well, just like Sally didn’t want to paint with the color brown, we don’t always want the things we experience in life. Remember how sad we were last year when Grandpa died? That was a dark time in our lives. We would have chosen not to go through that if we’d been able to.”

Sally nodded. “Like I chose not to use the brown paint.”

“Right,” Mom said. “We’d just want to have fun and happy times, like the bright colors of your painting. But God sees the complete picture of our lives. He knows the dark and difficult times are needed as much as the bright and happy times. He uses all of them for our good and to make us more like Jesus.”

Sally picked up a brush and reached for the brown paint. “I’m going to make this painting the best it can be.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” said Mom. “And one day we’ll see the complete picture God has painted with our lives too. In the meantime, let’s trust Him to help us through the hard times and make us the best we can be.” – Kimberly R. Thigpen

How About You?

Are you going through a hard, unhappy time? Do you sometimes wonder why God lets sad experiences come into your life? No one enjoys going through dark times, but God uses those times to make a complete picture of our lives. The next time you’re sad or disappointed, tell Jesus how you feel. He loves you and cares about you, and He’ll use even your difficult times for good.

Today’s Key Verse:
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good to those who love God. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Difficulties can bring good