The Black Dot
To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions – just a black dot in the center of the sheet of paper.
Reference: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.” Psalm 138:7 NIV
Explore: One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin.
The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.
To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions – just a black dot in the center of the sheet of paper.
The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there.”
The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task.
At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams, and started reading each one of them out loud, in front of all the students. All of them, with no exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet.
After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain: “I’m not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think about.”
No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focussed on the black dot – and the same happens in our lives.
We have a white piece of paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots.”
Application: It’s so easy to look at the dark and negative things in our lives that we forget the great things.
Often when troubles come they overshadow our knowledge that God is greater and more powerful than any black in our lives.
The Psalmist endured much trouble and yet he noticed God’s presence. While he “walked in the midst of trouble” he knew “with your right hand you save me”.
May we never cease to see God’s right hand in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for allowing the challenges in my life to block You out. May I stay focused on Your love and power. Amen.
Can you see God’s right hand in your life?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.