The Tapestry by Bonnie Peacock

As I entered an art gallery, a beautiful tapestry on the rear wall caught my eye.  As I meandered through the exhibits, I was drawn to the bold colors and subtle pastels of this one particular piece.  It was breathtaking.

But when at last I stood before the wall hanging, I was distracted by the individual strands of thread that made up this work of art.  The brilliant stains were offset by dark shadows.  I realized that the magnificence of the piece had been accomplished by the artist inserting somber hues amid the glorious shades of color.

This is just like life, I thought.  Have you ever wondered why some dreary, melancholy tones are woven into the fabric of our days?  God’s Word tells us that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).  Sometimes He allows dark times to mark the canvas of our lives so that the brilliance of the good times can be appreciated.

What if I always got my way?  What if it never rained and the sun always shined?  What kind of person would I be if I never suffered adversity?  How arrogant, hateful, prideful, and insensitive would I become?

Would I be able to enjoy the gifts that God brings into my life if I never struggled?  Could I recognize His goodness if all I had were days of laughter and abundance?  The bright blue of the sky is never truly appreciated until dark storm clouds part.

The Bible tells us about the contrasts that come into every life.  “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die… A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance… a time to keep silence, and time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace… He hath made every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).

So, God takes strands of grey, brown, navy, and black and He weaves a few here and some there.  It is all for my good.  When He is finished it will be a masterpiece.  The key to surviving these transitions is our recognizing His hand in the process and submitting to His will.

William J. Kirkpatrick said it so well, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.”  The last line is a wonderful prayer, “O for grace to trust Him more!”  Dear Lord, give us strength for dreary days.  Give us eyes to see the bigger picture – that You really are working all things together for our good.

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