Tuesday, December 15, 2009

It Is Correct!

“When the trials of life unravel the fabric of our plans. When we face the deep confusionof painful circumstance. When our feeble strength is broken, and we stand with empty hands. That’s when the Father whispers ‘Trust the pattern I have planned.’ ” Lyrics from song, The Weaver


Year ago, back in the days when I was more ambitious, I decided to make a quilt out of denim squares. I had done it before but this time I wanted to try for something different. I wanted it to have a rugged ragged kind of a look to it. In order to get it the seams were going to have to be facing out instead of inward for them to unravel over time and give it the look I wanted.

Surprisingly enough I think it was one of the most difficult quilts I’ve ever done. I had to go against my training of putting the right sides together and making sure the seams were on the right side as well. Everything I needed to do was opposite of what my mother taught me. After accomplishing my task the reaction I got from one of my grandkids was, “Grandma you sowed this on backwards.” “No, trust me its correct although it doesn’t look like that just now” I replied.

During the whole process of creating the quilt I had to reassure myself that doing this backwards was what I wanted. I had to trust the pattern I had designed for the quilt. It would take several washings and a lot of wear and tear but eventually the quilt came out looking as I originally wanted it to.

God definitely knows the pattern He has picked out for us. Whether that requires sewing wrong sides together and putting the seams on the outside it doesn’t matter. Our part is to trust the one doing the designing that He knows what He is doing. As a kid I had no problem trusting my mom to correctly make my clothes. She had done it enough that I had already seen a lot of her end results. Standing there in the living room in full cooperation to what she was doing, almost paralyzed in fear of getting stuck with a pin I was putting my trust for the final product into her hands.

We need to stand still before God in the same way giving Him our full cooperation. We may not need to stand there paralyzed in fear of getting stuck by a pin but who knows. If we wiggle around enough and not remain still during the process we could get stuck by the choices we make in life. Decisions made in haste as we take the process of the end result out of His hands long before it’s finished. If we are so willing to put our confidence in the person designing our wedding dress or tailor made suits we need to be even more than willing to trust in God.

God is fitting us with our spiritual clothes and we need to be still before Him and wait patiently for the final product to be revealed. Often before the end product is done life appears to be unraveling seams not yet hemmed. Our instant reaction is to stand there with our shoulders shrugged telling God, “You sowed this on backwards. You forgot this spot!” No, trust Him its correct according to His plans, His design, and His pattern. The true beauty of it all may not come out until a few more washings and a little more wear and tear but trust Him it is correct.


© 2009 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing

5 comments:

Denise said...

Amen, amen.

Debbie Petras said...

What a great analogy! I remember my mom used to sew dresses for me when I was a little girl. I would have to stand there while she pinned the pattern and each step of the way, she'd have me provide my arm to check the size. I often grew impatient with the process and just wanted the final product; my dress!

But you're right about how we must be patient and trust our Creator who knows exactly what He is doing in our lives.

Blessings,
Debbie

Sarah said...

Beautiful! Thank you so much for your wisdom today!!

Kim said...

Great analogy! Thanks for sharing. Also, thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.
Blessings, Kim

Tami said...

Waiting for the final product can be hard though, can't it? But we have no choice. We have to trust God as you have said. I agree.