Psalm 37:23. “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

Do you have the right perspective?

Recently a friend and I began talking about the large pine trees in her front yard. They were randomly scattered around the lawn and through time had grown large and full.

For many years they provided hiding places for the children who played around them. For many hours they formed an obstacle course for the lawn mower that had circled them. And on many days they provided a beautiful backdrop for family events and special pictures.

One day an aerial photographer flew by in his aircraft and took a picture of the property. Not long after, the photographer appeared at her door seeking to interest her in purchasing the photographs he had recently shot. Seeing the front yard from the photographer’s vantage point gave my friend a completely different perspective about her trees. They were not randomly planted, after all.

The landscaper who had lovingly set them in the rich soil had a plan. Though unseen from the ground, the picture from the sky showed that the pines formed a semicircle that surrounded the house – a fence of sorts that provided protection from the strong winds and heavy snows.

Often it feels like our lives are full of random events, some of which have positive effects and others of which produce frustrating or difficult ones. It is easy to feel that we are victims of fate, but nothing could be farther from the truth. What we often can’t see from our vantage point is that God directs each step we take. He does not miss a detail. The blessings, along with the trials, are perfectly planned for the purpose of helping us to grow and to trust Him more.

One day God will allow us to look back and see our personal aerial views. It will be evident that our Creator actually planned the seemingly incidental chains of events that comprise our individual lives.

So don’t try to figure out everything that comes across your path – just live life one step at a time, trusting the One who delights in every detail. You can trust that He has the perfect picture in mind as He plans and tends the fields of your life.

Sandra Sheridan is a Midwest wife and mother of five. She shares her messages to her children with Farm World. Visit her at www.VersesFromMama.blogspot.com