In recent days I've read a bit about Corrie ten Boom's life. She escaped death in the concentration camps of World War 2, being imprisoned for months, seeing her dear sister die there and loosing the rest of her family. She bravely soldiered on after her release at the end of the war and became a dearly loved "Tramp for the Lord" as she called herself.
As she ministered the Gospel to the nations, traveling to the far reaches of the world with the Good News of Jesus, she carried with her, and was rarely seen without, a beautiful scarf. She used this scarf to explain the wonders of how the Lord sees his children. She would show the underside of the scarf which was full of tangles and threads which appeared to go nowhere useful. She explained that this was so often the way we saw ourselves, unable to make sense of our lives, our circumstances and the world around us.
Then Corrie would take the scarf and turn it over displaying the beautiful design on the other side. She explained that this was the way the Lord saw us, the plans He had for us, the things that happened to us and the gorgeous pattern He was weaving in our lives. The side of the scarf she revealed was a stunningly designed crown.
The Lord has a purpose for all that we are going through in the tough times. He has a reason to bring us through the toughest tangles and the seemingly useless interruptions. Every loss, disappointment, hurt, wound, and even this dreadful pandemic, He turns into something beautiful and for His good pleasure, and our benefit. To Him be the glory through thick or thin, through the good times and the difficult, through times of prosperity and loss, sickness and health, valleys and mountaintop experiences. Although we see from the underside, earth, He sees from heaven, from the correct side. Every tangle is really an opportunity to trust Him to make something beautiful. And He will.
God bless each of you with greater confidence in Him, knowing His work in your life is always good.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you...
Plans for your wellbeing, not for disaster,
To give you a future and a hope.
