In the Care of the Weaver

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

My back surgery altered to course of my life. At the time though, I thought of it more as being shipped wrecked. I had gone to college because of football… and now, walking again would be the only goal I would achieve. All my dreams had involved sports… and now I wasn’t quite sure where to put my feet, let alone have a direction on which to set the course for my life. Against that dark backdrop of struggle, God opened my eyes to a new purpose and a precious gift who had been there by my side the whole time.

While I was at home recovering from surgery, my mom gave me a ring that had been her aunts. We (with great difficulty on my part) took it to a local jeweler to have it refashioned into the band that to this day symbolizes the endless bond that Mary Ann and I share. When I returned to see what the jeweler had done, he laid a dark cloth down under the ring. It was against that dark backdrop again that the intricacy and brilliance of his work was revealed; a beauty that would not have been as evident against an ordinary and mundane counter top.

 

Trials, hardships, suffering, and obstacles are a significant part of life. They each make up the dark backdrop by which we are able to distinguish and enjoy the beauty and wonder found only in the glory of God. Without these black threads, carefully woven into the fabric of our lives by our loving Heavenly Father, we would not realize nor appreciate the glory of Gods provision. Without the backdrop of pain, we would definitely take for granted the lovingkindness of God; but most assuredly, we would miss altogether the lamp of His Word that guides us home to His Throne.

 

Victor Frankl said concerning his survival of Auschwitz, “If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.”  That meaning is found in what the dark backdrop of trials and suffering expose. For me the black thread of back surgery revealed the beauty and love (the gold thread) of the one God had brought into my life and to whom I would commit myself… ‘till death do us part.’ The dark threads of fear and anxiety of that time exposed the trust and compassion I would experience in our life together. A life we would together, live in reliance on God.

Just as the dark backdrop exposed the intricacy and craftsmanship of the jewelers work on the engagement ring; so also the black threads of trials, hardships, struggles, and suffering we endure reveal the craftsmanship of God in molding us as the potter does the clay. The end result of God’s work in our lives will be a reflection of His Son; and along the way, He will use the black threads of broken ankles, cavernomas, divorces, deaths, loss of jobs, arrests, surgeries, bosses, poor choices, and other trials and struggles to refine that likeness of Jesus and His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, thankfulness, gratitude, courage, justice, discernment, temperance, and hope.  The purpose of the black threads is not to be focused on or frustrated with, but to make the craftsmanship and glory of God to be seen more clearly, exalting His name. The greatest disservice we can do is dwelling on these things; having looked past what is of God, the gold threads. When we fix our eyes on the craftsmanship of God, we will see Him authoring our faith; and in this way we will, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, my friend; one final thing… Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…. the gold threads that the black ones are making stand out! Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from Jesus, everything you heard from God’s Word. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9)

 

Hope is alive and is found in Jesus; fix your eyes in Him and Choose wisely….

 

Praying for U

 

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.


Think About This: “The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand… As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.” – Corrie Ten Boom

The Daily Bible Reading: Reflection | You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” –John 13:34-35

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick

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