“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War 2, some families deliberately chose to fear God rather than men. Corrie TenBoom and her family secretly hid Jews in a hiding spot built into a room on an upper floor in their Haarlem home. Several years ago, I took a trip to Holland and had the privilege of touring that very home, and of seeing “The Hiding Place”. It was a remarkable feeling to be standing where so many Jews had been saved from a horrible death.
And yet, God’s ways are often beyond our understanding. Corrie’s family was eventually betrayed and sent to the concentration camps where many members of her family perished, including her aged Father, and her dear sister, Betsy. In the TenBoom family home hangs a cross stitch, but it is purposefully hung backwards, so the viewer sees only the tangled threads at the back. The tour guide reminded us that Corrie wished to convey that, so very often, we only see the tangled threads of our lives, and cannot figure out God’s purposes. But God is actually creating a masterpiece! When the cross stitch was finally turned right-side-out, a beautiful golden crown was displayed!
And the challenge to you and to me is: will we trust Him? When the way is dark, and we are called to go through deep waters, will we rebel against Him, or will we humbly confess, that not only are God’s ways different from ours, but they are “higher” than ours. His way is the best way! May God enable us to worship Him through every struggle we are called to go through! He is yet on the throne of the universe, and He is working all things for the good of those who love Him, and are the called according to His purposes!
My Life is But a Weaving
“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.”