Some threads are beautiful. Some aren’t so beautiful.
And then there are those knots.
Those “other people” are the knots in our lives, right? Haha.
Actually, we have a lot of our own knots—regrets, mistakes, fears, insecurities, and on and on we go.
So…not only are we trying to work on our own stubborn knots and take the pretty threads (and not so pretty ones) to make something beautiful and lasting in our lives, we have to also consider the knots and threads of all those OTHER PEOPLE we are attached to!
Oh my. I think volumes could be written on this subject. Probably already have been! If any of you reading this know of some great books on the subject that could help others, I would love to see some of your suggestions.
But I want to put my little two-cents worth thoughts in the mix from personal experience…
IT’S HARD!!!! (Maybe it’s my two little words, not two cents…)
Yes, it is hard and extremely complex but nothing is impossible with God!
He can untangle knots in all the lives that are affected, take all the loose threads and strands and weave them into a beautiful tapestry and plan that we couldn’t imagine was even possible. He’s doing it all the time.
He’s weaving my tapestry into someone else’s, and theirs into mine. And our tapestries are being woven into ALLLLLL the other ones.
{ Only a really big and really creative God could do such a beautiful and complex work. }
Let me tell you, though. Sometimes great works of art take a lot of time. And we have to be patient as the Master Weaver does His work.
I have been married over 36 years to someone with a powerful personality. Coming up with changes that work and are accepted has not been easy.
When you are married, there is a lot of give-and-take and sacrifice that must be made. Sometimes (often), one spouse gives and sacrifices more than the other. And it takes a lot of prayer and time to let God work changes in the lives of everyone involved.
Most people aren’t making choices completely on their own without it affecting others. Usually many others. This could be spouses, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, bosses, co-workers, friends, extended family members.
Our choices affect others! Their choices affect us!
How could we even begin to think we could make all of these changes without lots of prayer and seeking of God’s guidance?
So that’s what I want you to know today. If you feel like your situation is hopeless because you can’t make the changes you need because of others in your life, know that God knows every detail of your situation.
The LORD directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23
He sees us. He hears our cries. He is overwhelmed with compassion. And He will answer.
I recently had a wonderful scene in scripture speak to ALL of this for me:
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son (Luke 7:11-17)
Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. (Bold and underlined emphasis mine)
HE SEES US! HE HEARS US! AND HE IS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TO HELP US!
[ Even if it takes a miracle! ]
So, as you pray, He is doing deep work wherever it is needed.
{ He’s untangling those knots. }
I’ve had (and still do have) some really tough knots that seemed like would never loosen.
But I’ve watched in amazement as some of them have begun to do just that.
I honestly didn’t think it was even possible to loosen some of those knots!
I’m even thinking now that if a knot just won’t loosen (change), God can weave THE KNOT into our tapestry and make it beautiful!
Personal “made-by-hand” art pieces always have imperfections and a uniqueness about them. We know that each part of it was touched and molded and woven and painted by the artist. It isn’t always “perfect.” Some people pay MORE for those unique imperfections!
So just know that God can take every single thread and knot of your life (which includes the threads and knots of the other people attached to you) and create something beautiful with it.
His solution and answer won’t leave anyone out because He loves us and He has a plan for each and every life.
And it all works together.
Beautifully.
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16
Amen. Selah.