Bears are, without a doubt, my favorite subject to photograph. Recently, I spotted this bear walking through the forest and had a feeling he might use a heavily traveled game trail. So I positioned myself where I thought he would end up and waited for a clear shot. He ultimately crossed a stream that was between us, soaking the lower half of his body, and traversed the game trail appearing exactly where I had hoped.

Moments like this remind me that wildlife photography isn’t just about camera bodies, lenses, settings, or composition. Those things matter, of course, but the most important and often overlooked element of the craft is studying the subject and spending time in the field observing behavior. Without learning the habits of black bears and witnessing their behavior firsthand, I would never have been in position to capture this image.

And that got me thinking…

Am I positioned to receive God’s blessings in my life?

Not every trip into the wild produces an unforgettable photograph…even after years of practice. Sometimes it takes multiple days in the field with nothing to show for it. But every “failure” builds knowledge about the location or species. When the shot finally comes together, those difficult days are quickly forgotten.

Likewise, placing ourselves in a position to receive God’s blessings doesn’t always produce an instantaneous result. It’s often necessary to spend “time in the field” with the Lord.

The Lord knows our story and what we need for the “expected end” that He has in store for us. Every time we seek Him, trust Him, and put ourselves in position to receive, our hearts and faith are strengthened even if sometimes it looks like nothing is changing on the outside. Hebrews 11:6 contends that “he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Diligence requires patience and effort. To use my photography analogy, it means coming home with an empty memory card more often than a full one, but continuing to put forth the effort because of the hope that the next outing may be the one that produces the result. When the image or blessing is finally achieved, we look back and see that the failures were preparing us for the blessing ahead.

As we diligently seek the kingdom of God, even in the face of opposition, we place ourselves in a position to receive the blessings He has promised. We can trust that, in His perfect timing, He will faithfully provide all that we need.