Patterns

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

There was once a young girl who wanted to learn to sew. She had sat at her mother’s knee all the years of her short life, watching the needle of the sewing machine racing up and down, up and down. Fascinated, she was transfixed by the formation of beautiful gowns of lacy white, for her mother was a seamstress of wedding garments.

“What are you doing, Mommy?”

“I am using the pattern to cut out the fabric.”

“Can I help?”

“No, it is best if I do this myself. I know just where to cut, just how to put the pieces together for the most beautiful garment. I will let you do something else.”

“Mommy,” she sighed, “I want a beautiful wedding gown.”

“Darling, I will make you a beautiful gown when it is time.”

“But I want one now!” she whined. And off she went to rummage through the box of fabric scraps.

Mother continued sewing while her little girl hastily and haphazardly hand-stitched pieces of fabric together. Something resembling an item of clothing did emerge, and the girl excitedly put it on. It did not fit, of course, but she wore it proudly. She was not ashamed, for she had made it herself. Of course, she could not see what it really looked like to others or to her mother, though her mother never scolded her. And day by day, it began to fall apart.

Mother gently said, “If you would let me work, I could fix that garment into something that would last. I have created a pattern that will fit you perfectly.”

“No! I want to do it myself.”

**

What a picture of our heavenly Father and us. He is making ready our wedding garments. He has planned a beautiful life that fits us perfectly, but we stand at His side, telling Him where to cut, what fabric to use, and how to sew it. He sees the finished garment, but we only see the process, and all too often decide we don’t like it and don’t want to wear it.

What is in us that makes us want our own way so desperately? Do we trust ourselves more than we trust Him? Are we secretly afraid that His plan will bring us harm and not good? He wants our spiritual lives to blaze and burn for Him and His glory and beauty, and we settle for our own poorly made, falling-apart garments of our own design.

Let’s remember that His ways are not our ways, but they are far above us, and past finding out. Rest in His goodness toward us.

God, I know You are good all the time. Help me wait and trust You for the life You have planned for me. Forgive me for thinking I can do it better than You can! Amen.