{"id":26351,"date":"2015-06-18T00:20:35","date_gmt":"2015-06-18T04:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=26351"},"modified":"2015-06-16T15:59:50","modified_gmt":"2015-06-16T19:59:50","slug":"the-big-picture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/06\/18\/the-big-picture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Picture"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SeekingHimLogo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“For I know the plans I have for you”\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u2014 this is the Lord\u2019s declaration \u2014 <\/span>
\n“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, <\/span>
\nto give you a future and a hope.”<\/span>
\nJeremiah 29:11 HCSB<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u271e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0\u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n

H. O. P. E. = \u00a0Holding On\u00a0Praying\u00a0Expectantly<\/span><\/h3>\n

So many times we’re in captivity or we’re having great problems; we think, “Oh, God has forgotten me. \u00a0He is not thinking of me anymore.” \u00a0Oh, that’s not so<\/em><\/strong>. God is<\/em> <\/strong>thinking of you.<\/p>\n

“But God is always looking down at the end of the road. \u00a0Our common mistake is that we are always looking for immediate advantage, immediate fulfillment.”<\/p>\n

– Chuck Smith (click here <\/a>to read entire commentary)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I cannot begin to count the number of times I have jumped into something considering only the immediate results instead of thinking about the long-term consequences. \u00a0I wanted the problem fixed NOW and knew just what to do. \u00a0How many blessings have I circumvented? \u00a0How many additional problems have I caused simply because I didn’t see the big picture? How much different might things have turned out if I had just held on to hope<\/em> <\/span>and continued to pray expectantly?<\/p>\n

And you will feel secure, because there is hope<\/em><\/span>;
\nyou will look around and take your rest in security.
\nJob 11:18 ESV<\/p>\n

Hope<\/em> <\/span>gives us security. \u00a0There is no need to rush ahead, to solve the problem, or to \u00a0resolve the issue, without waiting for God\u2019s instructions. \u00a0Because we have hope<\/em> <\/span>we can rest, secure in the knowledge that God has the perfect plan for us. \u00a0He sees the big picture and knows exactly what needs to happen and when. \u00a0His time frame, not ours.<\/p>\n

When the Lord is our hope<\/em><\/span>,<\/p>\n