the whole picture

you may or may not know that i'm currently working on a children's book {more like pre-teen book} that's all about one's relationship with Jesus. everything that happens in the story is symbolic of our choice to follow him and the struggles and victories we encounter as we do so. the more i write, the more i see and hear God speaking to me... which is funny because as i was telling mike rozell, of potters field ministry, about the book he said: "Through the story, God will have to speak to you first, then He will use it to speak to others."
and it's true. i feel like if this book were only meant to draw me closer to Jesus then it was time well spent and i'd be happy. of course, i do pray that he would use it to help and encourage others to know that he loves them.... but if he chooses not to for some reason, i'm totally fine.
with all that said, writing this thing hasn't been easy the entire time. yesterday, i came to a major block... i'll spare the details but i decided to take a break, go to church, and pray. when i woke up this morning, i still didn't hear which direction to take...so i started journaling this morning.
i told God that it was really hard to keep writing this book when i can't see the full picture, or the full complete story in my mind. i stopped right there like on one of those cartoons where the lightbulb appears above the character's head:
{ faith! }
it was as if God interrupted my thoughts and asked me right then, "do you ever get to see the full picture of your life... or know the whole 'story' in its entirety?"
nope. i don't know what's going to happen next year, or next month, or even tomorrow... but i have faith that God is taking care of it - He has a plan and i don't have to worry about that, all i have to do is walk, day by day.
i don't need to know the entire story right now, all i need to do is be obedient in writing and he'll reveal what he wants, when he wants... it's his thing anyways. :)
so too in our lives - we don't need to see the whole picture, all we have to do is trust and follow the One who does see the whole picture and continue to walk even if we can't see right in front of us.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

"But without faith its impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Hebews 11:6