Can Anything Good Come Out Of This?

A story simply heard can easily be forgotten, but when a story touches our emotions we do not soon forget it's affect on us.  That's how it was for me when I first read "The Hiding Place", the true life story of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie and her family hid Jewish people in their home in Holland during World War II so they would not be found by Hitler's regime.  Corrie and her family were arrested for doing so and taken to concentration camps where they experienced the unimaginable, a living hell on earth.  Her loss and her pain was so great, but in the midst of that torturous place she found courage, strength and even joy that could only come from God.  Her story is so gripping as she tells of the miracles she experienced in that place, how she forgave her enemies, and found light in her darkest hours.

One of my favourite illustrations that Corrie uses is when she relates our life to a needlepoint picture.  On the underside of the needlepoint there are messy strands of yarn tied in knots and criss-crossing all over the place.  It's quite messy and difficult to perceive any sense of order or purpose.   That's how your life may look to you.  Maybe you can't understand how anything good could come out of the mess you're in. Nothing seems to make sense.  Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!

But there's a flip side...the top side of the needlepoint picture reveals a beautiful colourful picture that has been created.  The colours work together in harmony, the dark hues enhancing the light ones.  That's how God sees our life, from a different perspective.  Those same messy yarns have been used to create a design of beauty.  By faith we can believe that our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that will surpass them all.    We usually can't see the purpose in our trials at the time, but just knowing there's a flip-side can give us hope enough to carry on.  It has for me many times.

My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily.

Oft'times He weaves in 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 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