Trusting God’s Perspective Despite Our Perceptions: A Holy Week Reflection

They run past the tree, dodging the swarm of bees circling it. Its light pink petals–one of my favorite signs of spring–will soon turn to green leaves, and the bees will move on. But until then, it stands as a tree to admire from a safe distance. No one in my family dares to get too close to what we’ve long called “the bee tree.”

My children don’t notice the beauty of the blossoms or care about the necessity of the bees. From their perspective, it’s just something to avoid.

I’m reminded that things aren’t always as they seem. This truth feels particularly fitting this Holy Week as we reflect on our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection.

From God’s perspective, things weren’t as they appeared then–and they often aren’t now.

It seemed as though Christ was helpless. In reality, His death was the help we needed most.

It seemed as though He was at the mercy of others. But He was extending the greatest mercy.

It seemed as though all hope was lost. Yet through His resurrection, a living hope was born.

It seemed as though everything He taught and lived for was in vain. But the truth is that moment was the very reason He came.

It seemed as though He was defeated. In reality, He conquered sin, death, and the grave.

When He appeared least victorious, He secured complete victory.

Just as things didn’t appear as they seemed during the first Easter week, they often don’t happen in our lives today; we may feel unloved. It may seem like the Lord’s forgotten us. Our circumstances may appear out of control. But this is the lesson of the bee tree and Holy Week: appearances and reality are often quite different. The truth is:

God Loves Us

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

God Sees Us

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely” (Psalm 139:1-4).

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me'” (Genesis 16:13).

God’s Got Us

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Regardless of how you feel or what your circumstances suggest, you can be assured of His faithful love: He willingly died so you could live–both now and eternally. He loved you to death–His own.

This Holy Week–and beyond–don’t allow the perception of “the bees”–whatever they are–to distract you from what’s real. Despite appearances, God’s Word is true, His power is unmatched, and His love is unrivaled. What may feel like a season of struggle or loss could be the very moment God is working in ways we cannot yet understand—just as the disciples experienced after their Lord’s crucifixion, when their greatest sorrow turned to joy three days later.

We can trust His perspective, timing, and plan. The resurrection assures us that God’s love and power are at work, regardless of how things seem.