Reframing Your Story

Have you ever taken a photo and zoomed in really close, but later wished you had captured the entire scene? When people go through a period of suffering or intense emotion, or experience any kind of trauma, their thoughts and feelings are zoomed into the pain and it's all they can see. Even once they are far-removed from the event, the memories often hold nothing but grief and heartache. Their vision is limited and they can feel completely paralyzed. The pain is in focus and everything else has been cropped out of the picture.

Unlike that photo, when it comes to your current or past experiences, you still have the option of changing the focus and reframing the story. Instead of keeping the pain front and center, zoom out and seek to view your story from God's perspective. This doesn't mean ignoring or dismissing the pain—just taking it out of focus so you can see the bigger picture.

The rest of the scene includes God's character and how He displays His faithful love. In the midst of suffering, God promises His presence and comfort. He draws His children near in order to know Him more and experience His love in times of struggle. He is always good and He is always at work. Ask your loving Father to expand your vision and reframe your story by seeing it as part of His story. Then those memories won't consume you with a flood of pain, but will inspire you to praise God and give thanks for His grace and faithfulness.

His bow is on the strings
And the tune resonates in the open space
To show us how emptiness sings:
Glory to God, Glory to God!
In fullness of wisdom,
He writes my story into His song,
My life for the glory of God.