Things are not always as they seem.

Take a look at this picture.


At first glance, it looks like this little girl is going to be a snack for the ferocious tiger. Actually she is on the other side of a very thick glass. 

Try this one. What do you see? A young or old woman? 

Things are not always as they seem.

While in Guatemala, I was sitting with some elementary aged boys. As we were talking I noticed something on the table.  It was a piece of lined writing paper that was folded into thirds. As I looked at the paper, my teacher eyes kicked in. What I thought I saw was not uncommon to what I have seen in classrooms here in the United States. Drawn on the paper were two big ovals with one little dot at the bottom of each one, there were also to curved lines on the outside of the drawing.

I giggled at their early pubescent behavior."Que es esto?" "What is this?" I asked them. As they unfolded the paper, I saw that they had drawn a dog with two big oval eyes and big loppy ears. 

Things are not always as they seem.
When the Israelites came to the Red Sea - Things were not as they seemed.
When David began to battle Goliath - Things were not as they seemed.
When Paul tormented Christians- Things were not as they seemed.
When the disciples saw Jesus die on the cross -Things were not as they seemed.


In our lives
When we face a huge obstacle- Things are not as they seem
When life feels unbearable - Things are not as they seem
When someone lets us down - Things are not as they seem
When we feel hopeless - Things are not as they seem
When bad things just keep happening, Things are not as they seem

Jesus tells us "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1

We are living in a world were there is more happening than what we can see.

The bible says that we are in a battle.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

In the midst of this battle, God will be victorious!

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Things are not always as they seem. You can trust that God has a plan!

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Father, Help me to trust that you have a plan, that you are working when I do not see you, and that you are big enough, strong enough, and wise enough to handle any situation.