“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
While we don’t see all that goes on behind the scenes, there is One who does. That should encourage us!
One sign that I’m on the other side of Covid is that “my want to” is returning. I want to engage, I want to work, I want to return to the writing trail. I want to update some social media pages.
So after a very early morning Saturday morning, I decided to update my profile pictures on Facebook. Those familiar with Facebook know that one challenge of updating a profile, is that you can never do it “in secret.” Anything you post goes to the timeline for all the world to see. So despite my desire to maintain anonymity, the pictures of Shannan and I and also of our grandkids were on full display.
Friends were gracious in their comments and kind in their words. One friend, however, asked a question that prompted this post. She wrote,
Incredible you got them all facing forward and *mostly* smiling!!!! What a fun crew and beautiful legacy.
As all of who take family pictures know — what others see is not what it took to get the pic! Her comment got me thinking about a video one of our kids took of us trying to get our grandkids all looking the same direction. It is a little picture of what we don’t always see “behind the scenes.”
By the way, I made sure that our kids and their spouses were okay with me posting this video!! Thanks fam!
As we all know, life in front of the camera only shows so much. We usually post the best pictures (believe me, we took many trying to get “the one”), the best moments, the and the happiest times. If the world is going to see it, we better be at our best!!
While we live in front of the camera, God knows what goes on behind-the-scenes. There are many reminders of this in Scripture:
“He will not forget your work (that others don’t see) …” (Hebrews 6:10)
“Your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (for helping the needy when no one else knows it) …” (Matthew 6:4)
“Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely …” (Psalm 139:4)
That God is aware of all that goes on behind-the-scenes and loves me in spite of knowing all that goes on behind-the-scenes ought to anchor my soul and shape my attitude:
It should humble me . . . because I know all the pictures it took to get the picture. And yes, I know the evil thoughts that often lurk behind my smiling face. Despite that, God still loves me and works through me.
It should anchor me . . . because God and God alone (not my social media status) makes me okay through Christ. When it comes to work, my “success,” our kid’s “success,” the number of grandkids, moments of joy, and even the tough times we encounter, I take them all as gifts of God (James 1:17), and in taking them as gifts I recognize God as the author of such good times and sweet moments. Where is the room for hubris when “every good and perfect gift is from above”?
It should keep me from comparing. “What is that to you?“ is God’s rebuke when I dare look over the fence and begin to compare my lot with that of someone else. Remember when Peter went down that road? Peter started to compare his future as a follower of Jesus with that of John. Jesus words to Peter are his words to us:
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” John 21:22-23
It should keep me rejoicing. God tells us, rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Life in the body of Christ is always a one another thing. Life together is a horizontal “we’re in this together,” not a vertical “I’m better!” Operating with that mindset helps me to cheer on the good pictures of good times our friends experience as our friends did with us.
It should keep me praising! Writing to the Corinthians, Paul asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Great question. “Receivers” have no reason to boast and every reason to praise. And to the church in Rome, Paul writes, “for from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be the glory forever” (Romans 11:36). Amen and amen!
So thanks to our friend Erin B, for reminding me of what goes on behind the scenes and more importantly of the One who knows and in knowing the good and the bad still loves me, cares for me, empowers me, fills me with joy, and makes me okay in Christ no matter what’s going on behind-the-scene!