Only Part of the Story – #107

It’s been one year.

Goodness, when I think back to February 1st 2022, there is so much wrapped up in it.

Fear, tears, anxiety, stress, grief, exhaustion, sleepless nights, panic attacks. 

I was sitting with a friend this week and briefly shared about our experience last year. We knew of each other at the time, but were not close. She listened as I shared. She had no idea the extent of what we walked through.

Because we weren’t close at the time, she had only seen part of the story. 

Likewise, while we walked through the tragic events of last February, Phillip came home alive. John and JJ did not. The trauma and grief that their families hold is something I have no idea the extent of because

I only saw part of the story.

Our family stood outside of the Dairy Queen in our town Wednesday morning and waved to the cars passing by. To many, I am sure they wondered why we were out there, forgetting or not knowing the significance of this day. They just saw a family waving. 

They only saw part of the story.

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Do you see what I am getting at? We only see parts of another’s story. There’s no way to see or know it all.

Only God knows it all. 

– – – – – – – – – – 

Here’s the other side to the story.

In the moment of fear, tears fell but I also fell to my knees and God drew near.

In the moments of anxiety and stress, I cried out to God and his peace surrounded me.

During the sleepless nights, I prayed with passion to a God who hears.

And in the panic attacks, God’s word filled my mind, providing an anchor to cling to. 

In the midst of the pain, God brought beauty.

– – – – – – – – – –

Sometimes all we see is the pain. All we see is the trial. All we see is the circumstance. 

But all we see is only part of the story.

God is the only one who sees and knows the full story.

God says that, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As far as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

It’s not only that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, but it’s that His thoughts and ways are higher than the heavens are higher than the earth. 

We are limited. God is not. 

God sees it all and knows it all and will do what is best for you. God can bring beauty from the ashes. 

So next time you are walking through a trial, remember that while you may only see your circumstance, and may only see part of the story, God sees the full story. 

Thanks be to Him.

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Psalm 145:7

For other blogs surrounding the events of February 1st, 2022 in Bridgewater, VA, please read Are We Immortal?, Thin Blue Line, Blue Glow and Tipping the Balance.