When Life Gets Tied Up in Knots

30 Dec 2011 4 Comments

by Rest Ministries in Devotionals2 Tags: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Atrial Fibrillation, chronic, Crochet, Crochet hook, God, Lord, Yarn

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

One of my favorite pastimes is crocheting. It is satisfying to watch as the yarn twists and turns and a marvelous creation unfolds. I enjoy the smoothness of the crochet hook, the feeling of the yarn slipping gently through my fingers, and the rhythm that occurs as the pattern is mastered.

Yet every so often the yarn doesn’t unwind the way it should and an ugly snarl pops out of the skein of yard. It is so frustrating to have to stop and work through the tangle before I can get back to the work I love. Sometimes someone offers to help me. It just doesn’t work if more than one person is trying to untangle the threads. Things get worse.

I’m realizing what a perfect analogy that is for my family right now. While things are always more difficult than I’d like them to be, we have achieved some sort of rhythm. A pattern of doctor visits, and a new “normal” day-time routine has developed. Then suddenly–one of those ugly snarls. This time, it’s dealing with an unexpected emergency in my husband’s already frail health.

His chemotherapy isn’t doing what it should. He is getting sicker instead of better. Tonight he lies in a hospital bed awaiting further testing. Our lives are now on hold. Another frustrating tangle faces us.

As I sit and sift through the happenings of the past twenty-four hours, the similarity hits home. Yet, this time, I know I am not the one that will gently untangle the days events and bring things back into rhythm again.

This time it is God’s hand that will do the needed work.

My worries and feeble attempts to help add nothing to what is happening. I realize that handing the whole tangle over to him is the only way to get back into whatever new pattern develops.

Somehow I know, that at the end of it all, a marvelous creation will occur.

And this one will have God’s hand print on it. Not mine.

Prayer: Father God, Thank you that in the tangles of our lives we can find you gently and patiently putting each strand in the proper place and making a creation that is exceedingly, abundantly more than we can think or ask. Amen and amen, Lord.

About the author:
Deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness. deni can be reached at EncouragingWords@me.com. Her webpage is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com/Encouragement.

You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com

When your life gets tangled up, how do you turn it over to God? Can you explain to us what you do or pray, to help those of us who are wondering exactly ,how to do this?

Advertisement