A picture is worth a thousand words. Except when it isn’t. A photo might capture a glorious moment accurately, but it can also be misinterpreted because it only captures a fraction of a second in your whole entire life.

If you took a snapshot of a moment in your life, you could misinterpret God, couldn’t you? Sure, in the good times it’s easy to spot his blessings. But in a rough patch? Well, you might think that at best he is distant from you. (After all, why would any God take the time to notice little, unimportant you?) You might think he is angry and giving you the silent treatment. (After all, you’ve done some pretty horrible things, so I bet there’s no way he wants to be around you.)

That couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, the God of the universe is your dearest friend. He is kind and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. He is your confidant, inviting you to leave your weariness and burdens with him so he can give you rest. He is an encourager, sending the Holy Spirit to live inside of you and giving you the strength for each day.

If today is one of those days—or this year is one of those years—please don’t believe the snapshot. There’s a bigger picture, one that reminds you, “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).