Don't miss forest for the trees?

I have never fully understood this saying {see title above}.
Bryan says it a lot.
Basically means, don't get caught up on the little things (trees) and miss the entire forest.

Never more have I understood this when suffering through trials as a Christian.

I am reminded today of two of our dear friends, Jon and Bethany who are suffering through a long and hard adoption process in the DRC. They have been at this for almost 2 years and the "tall trees" of disappointment, injustices and even death are so hard to see past; they've threatened their view of the forest.

But, my friends see the forest. They do not despair over the many trees, but have great hope that they will come out on the other side of this "forest" maybe with cuts and hurts, but ultimately unscathed because they have their hope set in our Sovereign God {who "does not willing afflict the children of men, though he cause grief." Lamentations 3:33,32 paraphrased}

Its hard to watch other people suffer. Especially our Christian friends. Even our responses, as people of faith can be less than Godly in these moments. We want it (so badly) to go "well" with our friends that we often grieve and grow in despair in how to serve them and pray for them. Maybe, if you're honest you haven't persevered in prayer because you have lost hope in a rather hopeless situation.

Don't miss the forest for the TREES!

Isn't it interesting that the ones that "miss the forest for the trees" so often are NOT the people suffering? Its usually, the people called to pray and persevere with those suffering. It's NOT a coincidence that God abundantly PRESERVES the saints he calls to suffer. Another example of this suffering and persevering is our other friends, Patrick and Hannah as they watch their mother suffer through a traumatic brain injury. Scary events that can seem so helpless and unknown. But we do have Help. I also know this first had in my own sufferings through miscarriages. So how do we support and love those in season of suffering? How can we see less of the TREES?

Gods promises are SO CLEAR, even in the midst of suffering.

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.^[b]

⁶ 

As they go through the Valley of Baca

    they make it a place of springs;

    the early rain also covers it with pools.

⁷ 

They go from strength to strength;

    each one appears before God in Zion."

Psalm 84:6-7

Here we see God bringing God's people through Valley of Baca (a literal place of  continual weeping), but notice they MAKE IT to places of SPRINGS and POOLS; STRENGTH to STRENGTH. Later we even see in this specific Psalm "no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." vs. 11b. 

Don't miss the springs and pools of strength despite the arduous journey through the valley! 

Spend time with your friends who are trudging through this valley, in their weeping and often you'll find personal joy as they find immense comfort in these pools and springs. You'll see a faith without wavering as God grows them into "oaks of righteousness" (Psalm 1). Verses like: "This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid" (Ps. 56:9b-11) become their mainstay. Stay with them here. Be encouraged, as you too may be tempted to miss these springs and pools for the tall, tall trees that tempt us to despair in our trials. 

I know I've shared before Psalm 106. But its such a great picture of God rescuing us from despair. Especially in vs. 25-31. Vividly shows God bringing the storm, our courage "melts" as we "reel and stagger" at our "wits end"....but he delivers us from our "distress" as he makes the storm still. Then he brings them to their "desired haven", which ultimately is HIM. Fellowship with HIM. Its the joy we find in these "pools, springs and desired havens" that we learn the secret of being transfered from sorrow to JOY. Its a mystery to those who only see God as a mean judge, willing bringing saints through valleys of continual weeping. But, what they don't see are the DEEP, DEEP pools of mercy and comfort He gives; that we WOULD NOT have KNOWN, UNLESS we walked through our own forests. I am thankful for my own forests, because I know God in richer way because of them! 

Satan wants to tempt us to get caught up in the trees. But God has POOLS and SPRINGS waiting for us. Waiting to sustain us and bring us into deeper fellowship with a Father who has promised us a "desired haven" waiting for us in "paradise" with Him one day. Until then, we walk through many forests and valleys but joyfully jumping from strength to strength. 

Don't miss the springs of mercy as you trudge through valleys. God is waiting and He is indeed merciful.