By Andrea Graff

The other day I took my little buddy Grant on an “Ange Date”—something we’ve been doing since he was two years old. He’s seven now, but his choice of date has pretty much stayed the same—ice cream, the park and shopping. I was surprised when this time, something else was on his agenda. A movie.

We decided on Kung Fu Panda 3 in 3D. As we got our candy and headed to our seats, I explained what 3D was. We sat down, and I put the glasses on. About five minutes into the movie, I looked over and saw that Grant didn’t have his on, so I whispered, “Hey buddy, remember? If you put on those glasses, everything won’t look so blurry. It’ll look really cool.”

He wasn’t having it. “I don’t want to look with those on. It’s too scary.” he whispered back. So, we continued on with the movie. Finally, about halfway through, I looked over to see him squinting his little eyes.

“Do you know what’s going on?” I asked.

“No, not really,” he replied, still squinting.

“Just try the glasses. It’ll be worth it,” I promised.

Reluctantly, he put on his glasses. Within 5 minutes, his little face had broken into a huge smile and he was laughing every 30 seconds (Sorry, whoever was in front of us!).

“Ange, this is so much better. I didn’t know what I was missing!” he whispered excitedly. I loved watching him enjoy the movie the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

I took Grant home that day, not thinking much about that little conversation. But, fast forward to this past week. I was freaking out about all the projects I had to finish up, felt discouraged about missed opportunities, and was wondering if all my hard work was even making a difference. My future just felt, well… blurry. Unclear.

I sat down with my coffee and my Bible, as I do most mornings, and that picture came back to me so vividly. I felt like God was saying, “You’re watching in 2D. Put on the glasses, and everything won’t look so blurry.”

So, I put on the glasses, so to speak. I went through my Bible and found verses that proved how He saw my life…

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven… God has made everything beautiful for its own time… people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

And even if your beginning was small, your end will be very great. Job 8:7

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:2

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass… Isaiah 46:10

I felt like God was watching me as a smile crept back on my face. He was enjoying watching me see my life the way it was meant to be seen. Like Grant, I hadn’t really been aware of what I was missing out on.

Dreaming big about our futures can seem scary at first, just like watching the movie in 3D was for Grant. It can seem like more than we think we can handle or more than we think we’re capable of. But once we take the leap, it’ll prove worth it.

We may still not know how the story line ends or when the credits will roll, but it makes the journey much more enjoyable and much more exciting.

That’s because we know: there’s Someone in control, someone who sees our life for what it truly is. And He knows… because He wrote the story. 🙂

Have a great day.

Love you guys,

Andrea