The Weaver's Tapestry

One of the most beautiful illustrations I have heard for Romans 8:28 is that of a tapestry.

It is only an illustration—not a doctrine—but it helps us picture something that Paul teaches.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

When most people admire a tapestry, they see the finished side.

The colors blend together.

The pattern is beautiful.

Every thread seems to be exactly where it belongs.

But turn the tapestry around.

The back tells a different story.

Loose threads.

Knots.

Colors crossing in every direction.

There appears to be no order at all.

Suppose, however, that you were not merely looking at the back of the tapestry.

Suppose you were part of it.

You feel the needle pierce the fabric.

The thread is pulled tight.

The needle disappears only to emerge somewhere else.

You cannot see what the Weaver sees.

All you know is that it hurts.

Many of us have experienced seasons like that.

A job is lost.

A loved one dies.

A relationship is broken.

A dream fades away.

We ask the same question:

"What is God doing?"

The truth is that we usually see only the back side of God's work.

Joseph certainly did.

From the pit...

...to slavery...

...to prison...

...there was little that appeared to make sense.

Yet years later Joseph could say:

"Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."

His brothers saw betrayal.

Joseph eventually saw the finished pattern.

The disciples stood at the cross believing everything had come to an end.

From their viewpoint, the tapestry appeared ruined.

Three days later they discovered that what looked like defeat had become the greatest victory in history.

Romans 8:28 does not say that all things are good.

Some things are unquestionably painful.

Some are the result of sin.

Some are the result of living in a fallen world.

But it does say that God is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The tapestry reminds us that we are not the weaver.

We do not see the completed design.

We see only today's thread.

Today's stitch.

Today's pain.

Faith trusts the Weaver even when it cannot yet see the picture.

One day, perhaps in this life or perhaps in the next, we may finally understand why certain threads crossed our path.

Until then we walk by faith, not by sight.

The back of the tapestry may look confusing.

But the Weaver has never lost sight of the pattern.