Have you ever heard of the Bayeux Tapestry?
(Watch a short Youtube video about it HERE)

It’s a 230 feet long medieval tapestry (that’s about the length of 3 swimming pools) depicting the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The longest tapestry in the world, it now hangs in the Museum of Queen Matilda, in the Norman city of Bayeux, in Normandy, France. Without a doubt, it is the most famous textile piece in the history of art.

I’m no art expert, but I can appreciate how impressive this tapestry is. Yet, no matter how detailed or how extravagant the famous Bayeux Tapestry is, it cannot hold a candle to the tapestry that is your life and mine.

As a counselor, I frequently work with people undergoing some trial, hardship, grief, or downright dark season in life. More often than not, the individual has a hard time seeing past his/her present situation. I understand. I get it. When the storm is bearing down on you, it’s hard to imagine the sunrise coming tomorrow. I’ve also sat across from a number of clients asking me the question, “Why is this happening?” I don’t always have a definitive answer for them. Afterall, I am not God. But, what I can assure them (and you) is that God can use this hurt and He does work ALL things for your ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

We often get upset when our life doesn’t work out the way we want it to. We believe we can be “good” and earn God’s favor as if that will somehow exempt us from any trouble. We add a caveat to John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We try adding in a good behavior clause. We think there’s a footnote that says, “In this world you will have trouble…unless you are really good. And then nothing bad will ever happen to you.”  You might find that verse in the book of 1 Opinions, but you won’t find it in the Bible. You will have trouble. I will have trouble.

But just because things don’t work out the way we want them to doesn’t mean they don’t work out in the God knew they would.

What would the masterpiece of your life look like if those bright, radiant colors weren’t occasionally contrasted with dark grays and blacks? How would the story be complete if those redemptive healings weren’t contrasted by the hurts that led you there?

What if God is a master weaver, weaving together every color you can imagine into the beautiful masterpiece known as you? While the piece is still in creation, we can only see the back, and to be honest, it looks jumbled, messy, and incoherent. But, when the masterpiece is complete with every detail of the weaver’s plan, and He reveals it, what a breathtaking work of art it will be!

Our lives are woven into a beautiful tapestry. God moves in and through our lives, even when we cannot see Him or understand what He is doing.  In the dark, uncertain times our faith must truly take action. This means trusting in the face of un-trustable circumstances, which we all will experience in this life. Have faith that when troubles come, God won’t leave you there.  Just as an artist doesn’t leave the pieces of his tapestry incomplete, He is threading together moments of your life into a unique masterpiece. We are his masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), and He will see us to completion.

The mended life is the idea that God never lets our pain go to waste and that regardless of how we see our present situation, He’s working to make something magnificent. The dark threads are often the most meaningful and in the end will be the most beautiful. If any of them were missing it would not be perfect and complete. Can you look back on your life and see how something awful later brought about something wonderful? Can you look back and find times where your relationships were actually made stronger by a hardship? Hindsight is 20/20. Oh to have faith to not need hindsight.

They say that tapestry weaving is one of the most expensive and time-consuming crafts. I’d have to agree. As God weaves our tapestry, He has given the greatest expense and largest amount of time into it. The cost? His very own son. The time? Well, he’s known about you for all eternity. Anyone with that much invested must weave one impressive tapestry!

****

-Joel Walton

(The Tapestry Poem)

by Holocaust survivor; Corrie Ten Boom.

“My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth 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 reveal 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

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.”