Life is like viewing the backside of a tapestry. It appears to be nothing more than a jumbled mess and nothing really makes sense. No wonder we give up, lose heart and forget who we are.
But things are not always what they seem for when you turn the tapestry over you can see the astonishing beauty of what God is doing your life. The truth is that we don’t see what God sees, but He occasionally gives us a glimpse at what He is weaving into the fabric of our lives.
Our destination was to summit the 5,260-foot mountain. This journey would be via the Bridle Path trail, which follows a western spur ridge of Lafayette, from Lafayette Place Campground on Interstate 93, past the Greenleaf AMC Hut, joining the Greenleaf Trail, and ultimately reaching the summit a short distance after the hut.
Up the mountain I went, to my destiny moment!
We finished lunch with a couple of other hikers on the back deck of the AMC hut and began our final ascent. It was getting colder, and we began putting on warmer gear as we navigated through more snow and ice. With the thinning of the air, the tighter gripping of the cold, and the thickening silence, an overwhelming desire to run ahead came over me. I motioned to my friend that I was going to run up ahead a bit, which he had no issue with. Closing in on the summit, with my heart pounding and my lungs stinging from the cold air, I somehow knew that a milestone of this journey was at hand. I saw a large rock come into view, converging with my path, and I soon found myself standing upon this large rock. It was as if the Lord had gone ahead and had prepared this place of peaceful solitude and comfort so I could clearly hear His voice without all the other distractions. Standing there upon the rock, I took a deep breath, lifted my head to the Heavens, and began to have a conversation with Him. Time relaxed for a moment. It was awesome.
It was here at this place of desolation, on this rock, on this mountain, where He spoke to my heart. Do you want to know what He said to me? He asked me to collect four stones when I got to the top of the mountain. So, standing in my own strength, leaning on my own understanding and ending the tranquil scene He had prepared for me, my response was, “You want me to do what?”
In the midst of the storm, God gave me a glimpse of what He was up to in my life. It was that momentary peek at glory that gave me the courage to keep going, knowing that nothing happens by accident. No thread of experience—good or bad—is wasted (Romans 8:28). He knows exactly what He is doing!
The Weaving
My life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oftimes he weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I, the underside.
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain 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.
—Corrie ten Boom
Are you ready to start trusting Him with your life, even when it doesn’t make sense?
