About the Author

Jennifer is an artist living in rural Nebraska with her US Army veteran husband. She loves to create and seeks to reflect the beauty of Christ and encourage others in meaningful, beautiful ways. You can find her and see more of her art on Studio JRU.

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
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  1. Jennifer,
    Oh dear….I guessed a pringles potato chip lol. I would have never gotten this one right. I think this is my favorite post of yours that I’ve read. I love how it is filled with Truth and seeing God’s Perspective as witnessed through the eyes of a photographer is the perfect analogy. His thoughts ARE so much higher than mine. I am able to trust Love’s heart, even if I am too close to the situation to see the big picture. Time, trials, triumphs, and experience have helped to teach me that God truly has my back. He IS faithful and He had my best interest in mind. Sometimes my “best interest” includes building my character, but even as my faith muscles are stretched, He is always there…never letting me fall. I think I need to re-read this 🙂 Loved this!
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • Bev, I look forward to reading your comments each morning. Your perspective is so reassuring. I wish you continued blessings!

    • That was a pretty good guess, Bev… I can see a chip! 🙂 Really grateful you enjoyed the post so much. Thank you for your encouragement! And thank you for your beautiful thoughts!

  2. Thank you so much for this. Lately I feel I have been zoomed in to all my worries. I’m not putting things in the proper perspective. Your words have brought me back to the Lord to remember what he has said. Thank you for your encouraging words. This is exactaly what I needed to read this morning.
    Blessings,
    Lynette

  3. Amazing picture!
    Your words remind me of a story that Elisabeth Elliot used to tell about her days in the jungle. Apparently Jim took a picture of something outside their house in the Ecuadorian jungle — not realizing that there was a huge ugly insect on the window. When they finally were able to view the photo, instead of the beautiful view he intended, there was this big ugly bug!
    Like you, her point was that it’s all in our focus! So often I’m completely obsessed with the up close ugly, when God wants to show me a vista of beauty!
    Blessings to you!

  4. My daughter is struggling so very hard right now. I pray for her and try to find words of encouragement to remind her that God is in control. This will be something I can share with her – Thank you for this timely word today!
    Be blessed!

    • Shirl, I know that the Lord will bring you both through this for He is so very faithful and true. We may be perplexed or feel crushed, but the Lord is there listening so closely to the cries of our hearts, wrapping us in His arms, feeling with us. My heart it there with you, praying that He gently holds you both close today 🙂

  5. Jennifer,

    You may never know how much I needed you message this morning! He is so faithful and I am encouraged at a time that I could easily give up. I will trust in Him and lean on my faith as the future unfolds and God’s plan is revealed. Thank you for blessing me today❤️ Candy

  6. thank you for this meaningful article.I’m going thru a very tough & hurtful situation now between me & my son….theres no trust but anger,impatience,misunderstandings,arguements & its breaking us apart…dont know what to do but this article is a great reminder to surrender everything to God,HE has it covered…easier said than done but got to try to put it into practice….appreciate prayers from those reading this.Thank you & God bless all

    • Patricia, I’m so sorry for this situation in your lives. I have found myself in a similar place too and it helps to ask the Holy Spirit to grant me the mind of Christ and the hope of His heart. You are strong, Patricia, for He lives in you 🙂 My heart goes out to you and I pray that He brings His peace and comfort to your hearts, rest to your souls 🙂

      • Thank you,An, for yr encouragement,comforting words & prayers.
        God bless you always!

      • Thank you Jen for yr inspirational article…..it gives hope & it reminds me to put God at the Centre of all our trials & struggles & sufferings & to totally surrender in His trust & mercy.
        Thank you too for yr prayers,God bless you always!

  7. Jennifer,

    I got the picture wrong also. I thought it was a ceiling or floor grill. Loved this post! The analogy of perspective from a photographer is unique and right on. I have found that perspective-stepping aside and seeing the whole picture makes it more clear. You don’t always know the plans God has for you. BTW you used my life verse Jeremiah 29:11. Having gone through some trials with my aging dad and now seeing how God has worked it all out has taught me to pray and wait on the Lord. He may be trying to build character, trust in me. He knows the whole journey!!

    Blessings 🙂

    • Oh… I can see guessing a floor grill! That is such a beautiful verse, Beth. I just love it! So grateful to hear how He has brought you through part of your journey in life with your dad. He teaches us in such extraordinary ways, doesn’t He?!

  8. Jennifer, such a great post. The Lord has been teaching me a lot about perspective over the past few years. A couple years ago, it was my One Word. I still have much to learn about not focusing in so much on what I think I can see that I miss the work God is doing in the bigger picture of my life.

    I’m in a place right now, where I struggle to keep an accurate perspective. Hope deferred makes for discouragement. But God . . . He’s writing a story with my life (and each of ours) that is bigger than we can see. I need to focus on Him rather than on what I see happening in my life right now.

    I loved your picture and your puzzle. I guessed some sort of fabric. Loved the picture. And, I loved your message. Thank you!

    • Fabric is a really good guess… I can totally see that! Sounds like He is doing some amazing thinks with your journey, Jeanne! It is hard to keep an accurate perspective and that is why I have to rely on reminders! God knows I need them! 🙂

  9. This a great read,am encouraged.Because HE lives I can face tomorrow .Be blessed

  10. Jennifer, seems you wrote this just for me. 🙂 Isaiah 55:8-9 has been on my mind much lately. I’ve been facing a difficult decision and am confused as to which way God wants me to press in. I love this beautifully written reminder that God doesn’t have limits. His ways and thoughts are higher than mine. He sees the whole picture. Though I can’t make sense of the particulars I’m seeing right now, it’s an opportunity for me to grow my trust in our limitless God. Thank you for your encouragement! <3 Well — what a surprise about the picture. It looked like a corduroy suitcoat to me! 🙂

    • Oh I love that guess, Joy!! So grateful you could be encouraged as you are going through this part of your journey. Praying for you as you trust in our limitless God!

  11. Jennifer, I love your words on perspective. My view from an airplane window a year ago reminded me of how big my God is and how small my prayers were. But realizing that focusing on outcomes can cause me to miss His abiding presence is a reminder my heart needs today. Thank you for your encouragement. : )

  12. Great reminder! I also often tell people to hold a pencil tip right up in front of their face – it obscures your line of vision even though “it’s no bigger than a pencil point”… our perspective is often skewed.

  13. Jennifer, I am so grateful for these gentle words that the Lord tugs at my soul with-your words are such a blessing. He reminded me to forget the former things, to not dwell on the past, to see Him doing a new thing, and trust in it. Sometimes I get so focused on things that I miss Him, I over-focus to control or because I don’t understand. Putting on the mind of Christ helps to see through His glasses, the lens of His Word. May we all see though His eyes today, sharing His heart for us all, learning new things through the joy of seeing Him work 🙂 (I thought that it was corduroy too :P)

  14. Thank you for sharing Jennifer. Really needed this reminder. God has beautiful plans for our lives, I pray that we always trust in Him. Xoxo

  15. I had about three wrong guess. The Lord taught me about perspective, using the phrase perception and deception. We don’t always see the big picture, perception and when we don’t understand the Word or His plans for us, along comes the enemy with his lies and deception. We don’t have to fall for it. Trick photography is fun, but we matter so much to God. Great post!

  16. Since I am hungry, I see a BBQ potato chip!
    You hit so many nails on the head, so many timely reminders for our questions and struggles. Such a great post and we need to tuck these reminders in our heart.

  17. Not even close …
    Thought it was a fabric …
    Either crafting or clothing …
    Wow, that makes the point …

  18. Thank you Jennifer, God has led you to speak to all of us especially me. Wrong decisions have broken my heart. I thought I was on the right path. I hope God will take the wheel and correct my steering. Painful times….. Thank you for the encouragement.