When we woke up that morning, we thought we were headed toward one final national park before beginning the long drive home. That was the plan I had mapped out before we left home. Shortly after getting on the road, we passed a sign that read, “Capitol Reef National Park – Next Exit.” My son immediately looked over and asked, “Dad, should we go?”
He quickly pulled out his phone and opened the GPS to see if it was possible. Unfortunately, although the exit was only a mile or two away, the national park itself was still much farther than we had time to drive. But then came the surprise.
As he continued looking at the map, he discovered that two other national parks were both within driving distance of our route. I will never forget the excitement in his voice as he said, “We can make it!” I have never been one to pass up an adventure, so it didn’t take long to change our plans.
Looking back, I’m glad we did. Canyonlands became one of those unexpected stops that God used to preach another sermon.
Canyonlands is exactly what its name suggests. It is a vast landscape of canyons, mesas, buttes, and rock formations that stretch for miles in every direction. Standing at one overlook after another, it almost feels as though you are looking at a giant map spread out before you. Rivers wind through deep canyons. Massive cliffs divide the landscape into sections. From where you stand, you can see what seems like an endless horizon. It is truly one of those places that pictures simply cannot capture.
One of our favorite stops was Mesa Arch. Standing beneath the arch and looking out across the canyon beyond, I was reminded once again that creation constantly points us back to its Creator. We also drove to Grand View Point, located at the very end of the scenic drive. The name couldn’t be more fitting. Looking out across the rugged landscape, it seemed as though you could see forever. Layer upon layer of canyons disappeared into the distance until they blended with the horizon.
That was the sermon. Most of the time, we live life from ground level. We see today’s problem. Today’s decision. Today’s disappointment. Today’s opportunity. Our perspective is limited because we can only see what is immediately in front of us. God sees the whole map.
I was reminded of the very first Scripture I memorized, Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Those verses are familiar to many believers, but they become even more meaningful when we remember why we need to trust Him. We don’t see what He sees.
One of the reasons we become anxious is because we desperately want a map God has never promised to give us. We want to know where our decisions will lead, what tomorrow will bring, and how every chapter of our lives will unfold. God rarely gives us that kind of detail. Instead, He asks us to trust the One who already knows the destination.
Standing at Grand View Point, I could trace the course of the canyons for miles. I could see where one canyon connected to another. I could follow the path of the rivers below. Yet if I had been standing at the bottom of one of those canyons, my perspective would have been completely different. I would have seen only the walls immediately around me.
Isn’t that often how life feels? We all face moments that don’t make sense. A door closes that we thought God had opened. A doctor’s report changes everything. A relationship becomes strained. Plans we’ve carefully made suddenly change. In those moments, it’s easy to wonder what God is doing.
From where we stand, none of it seems to make sense. But God is not standing at the bottom of the canyon. He sees the whole map. He sees where this road leads. He knows how today’s disappointment fits into tomorrow’s blessing. He understands how one conversation, one decision, or one unexpected detour can shape the rest of our lives.
As I reflected on that truth, I couldn’t help but think about our own journey. That morning, we changed our travel plans because we discovered something we hadn’t noticed before. What looked like a detour turned into one of the highlights of the trip.
Life often feels that way. The difference is that while we occasionally change our plans, God never has to change His. God has never had to adjust His plans because something caught Him off guard. He has never been surprised by a diagnosis, an election, a financial crisis, or a decision we make. He already knows the end from the beginning.
The same God who carved the canyons of Utah is directing the lives of His children with perfect wisdom. That doesn’t mean every road is easy. It does mean every road is under His sovereign care.
As my son and I stood at Grand View Point, I couldn’t help but think about the season of life we were entering. Just a few weeks earlier, we had celebrated his high school graduation. In a short time, he would move into his college dorm and begin studying mechanical engineering. Like every student beginning a new chapter, he doesn’t know exactly what college will hold or where God may lead him after graduation.
The truth is, neither do I. But God does. As parents, we naturally want to know what lies ahead for our children. We want to protect them from disappointment, celebrate every success, and somehow see around every corner before they get there. We can’t. But our heavenly Father already sees every step they will take.
The same God who could see every canyon stretching across the Utah landscape already sees every chapter of my son’s future. He also sees yours.
Interestingly, the day before this article was published, my son moved into his college dorm. The future still holds many unknowns, but it is not unknown to God. That truth brings a peace no map could ever provide.
Looking across Canyonlands, I realized the greatest view wasn’t the one stretching for miles across the desert. It was the reminder that while I can only see the next step, God already sees the whole map.
Personal Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you’re struggling because you can’t see what lies ahead? Take a few moments to read Proverbs 3:5-6 again. Then thank God that while your perspective is limited, His is not. Trust the One who sees the whole map, even when He only reveals the next step.
Part One – God Can Preserve What Time Cannot (Petrified Forest Naitonal Park)
Part Two – God’s Greatness Produces Humility (Grand Canyon National Park)
Part Three – The Narrow Way is Always Worth It (Zion Naitonal Park)
Part Four – Every Life is Unique (Bryce Canyon National Park)
Part Five –
Part Six –
Part Seven –
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