Protest The Pixels, Or Praise The Painter

Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. [Psalm 105.19]

Yeah, well... I think we would all like to believe that God does not use adverse situations to bring something good in or through our lives, but the Psalmist believed and recorded otherwise.

It occurs to me today that God is in control of everything - even my difficulties. Because of His sovereignty, God is deserving of praise - even if my praise rises from a life of difficulty.

The fact is, God is worthy of praise because He is in control of the big picture. How He chooses to use the minute details is up to Him. My displeasure or disapproval of those details is inconsequential. God is simply too deserving of praise for the big picture for me to waste time complaining about my uncomfortable pixel or two of participation in it.

If indeed trials build character, looking at the big picture, why would I complain anyway?

In both Psalms 105 and 106, God is being praised because of the big picture. We (I) would do well to adopt a similar attitude! His picture earns Him praise - our pixels are not worth protesting over.

Father, it is so easy to lose focus of the big picture that You are painting (and for which You are worthy of great praise) and start to complain about comparatively brief events in my life (that, uncomfortable as they are, play a role in Your big picture). I want to grow past my self-centered-ness and focus on and praise You. YOU are deserving of all praise because You are in control and You are doing a marvelous thing in the earth!