Blades of Grass. . .

I was out walking our sweet beagle, Sparrow, the other day, and the sun was casting tall shadows of the blades of grass onto the sidewalk. I was so struck by the sight, that I had to go back into the house, much to Sparrow's confusion, to grab my camera.

The reason the shadows of the grass looked so big to me was because I was on the wrong side of the sun. Had I been on the other side, I would have seen the grass for what it truly was and wouldn't have even seen the shadows.

There are many troubling issues casting shadows out there to tempt us in our lives today. If we focus the camera of our minds upon those shadows, they will be the reality which we know. We must be sure the blades of grass -- the troubling issues of the day -- are not between us and the Son.

When Paul and Silas were cast into prison in Philippi, they didn't petition the Philippian government for their rights. They didn't rant and rave about the injustice done to them. What did they do? "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:25) Understand now, they had been beaten, whipped with "many stripes", cast into the innermost, vilest part of the prison, and their feet placed in stocks. Talk about casting shadows! But what did they do? They prayed, they sang praises - - and at midnight no less! And the Lord intervened in the situation.

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

Our focus is always to be "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. " (Hebrews 12:2) Once we have done that, we can trust the Lord to intervene in our situations. He knows what is best. Perhaps He may first lead us to the innermost prison, or to our feet in stocks, but He may do so that the jailor and all his house might be saved. (Acts 16:31-34)

Let us keep ourselves on the side of the Son, our focus on Him, and the troubles of this world will seem small in comparison to His glory and grace.