More Cheese than Holes

Early this morning, I couldn’t get an unusual picture out of my mind. It wasn’t a sunrise, a mountain, or an open Bible. It was a piece of Swiss cheese.

Strange, I know.

But sometimes God uses the most ordinary things to reveal extraordinary truths.

As I looked at that piece of cheese, I noticed what everyone notices first: the holes. Then I sensed the Lord gently say, “Look closer.”

That’s when it hit me.

When you hold Swiss cheese close to your face, all you can see are the holes. In fact, if you’re looking through one of them, it can seem like there’s nothing there at all.

Isn’t that how life feels sometimes?

When disappointment is right in front of us… when grief, unanswered prayers, financial pressure, or broken relationships fill our vision… it’s easy to believe our whole life is nothing but empty spaces. We become so focused on what’s missing that we overlook everything God has already placed in our hands.

But perspective changes everything.

Step back.

Now look again.

The holes are real. They haven’t disappeared. The pain happened. The loss was significant. Life may have landed a few hard blows that left their mark on your heart.

Yet the holes are not the whole story.

There’s far more cheese than hole.

Maybe today you’ve been staring through the opening created by disappointment. You’ve convinced yourself there’s no substance left, no hope ahead, nothing good to hold onto.

Can I encourage you?

Take one step back.

You’ll begin to see God’s faithfulness surrounding the places that hurt. You’ll notice His provision where you thought there was only lack. You’ll remember the people who love you, the prayers He’s answered, the strength He’s supplied, and the grace that has carried you farther than you ever imagined.

The scars may still be there, but so is the goodness of God.

Scripture reminds us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). Sometimes we have to stop looking through the hole long enough to see the abundance that has been there all along.

Today, if all you can see is what’s missing, ask the Lord to give you His perspective.

I think you’ll discover what I did.

There is far more cheese than hole.

Reflection:
What “hole” has captured your attention lately? What evidence of God’s faithfulness have you overlooked because it has been sitting just outside your focus?

Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that my life is not defined by what is missing, but by Your presence and Your faithfulness. Help me step back and see my life through Your eyes. Give me gratitude for what remains, hope for what is ahead, and confidence that You have never left me. Amen.