When You Can’t See the Big Picture, Trust the One Who Can

Do you ever wish you could see the big picture?

I recently returned from a runDisney race weekend at Walt Disney World in Florida. After the race, I spent some time exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. While walking through the park, I noticed a Disney photographer taking photos of a family in a quiet little spot off to the side of the main path. It seemed like an unusual location for a photo since most photographers were stationed in front of major landmarks.

Curious, I watched for a moment. Once the family finished and I saw that no one else was waiting in line—a rare thing during my trip—I decided to take advantage of the moment and have my photo taken.

After snapping a few pictures, the photographer’s face lit up with excitement. He pointed to a building in the distance and told me to look at a specific spot. With energy in his voice, he explained that a special camera mounted there would capture something unique. He gave a more detailed and animated explanation, but it went in one ear and out the other. After being awake since 2 a.m. and running ten miles, I wasn’t exactly operating at full capacity. I nodded and followed his directions, curious about what was in store.

Afterward, he showed me the result on his camera. It was a short video that started by focusing on me, then zoomed way out to reveal the bigger scene before zooming back in. It was cool!

Often I wish I could do the same in life. I want to make sense of senseless. I want to zoom out like that camera and see that I’m part of a bigger picture. I want to recognize that the scene wouldn’t be complete without my role in it. I want to know that my part matters. I’d love to have a way to zoom in with clarity and know exactly what I should be doing at any given moment. But life doesn’t work like that.

We don’t have a special camera that shows us the full view, but that doesn’t mean we’re lost or powerless. We don’t need to fear what we can’t see or control. Even when we can’t make sense of the bigger picture, God sees it all. He knows exactly where we belong. We don’t have to understand everything to live with purpose and joy. We simply need to trust that we were created for a reason and that our part in the story truly matters. He’s not asking us to have all the answers—just to keep showing up, one frame at a time.

So today, if you’re feeling unsure or wishing for more clarity, take heart. Keep showing up. Even when we can’t see the big picture, we can walk forward with confidence, knowing the One who sees it all is guiding us every step of the way.