In my last blog, I mentioned that the Lord had given me some visions to encourage me during some difficult months. After each concerning phone call, I had faithfully put my prayer requests in my Jesus Box and chose to trust God with the outcome. However, at times, my heart still felt heavy. One morning, as I was looking over the most recent court documents concerning the custody of my special needs sister and waiting for the results of my daughter’s MRI, I saw a vision about a ball of yarn.
A strand of yarn stretched out in front of me that looked like it continued forever. I bent down and picked up the end and started rolling it into a ball as I walked forward. After a while, the ball was so large and so heavy I had to set it down and push it with both hands. When it had grown to the height of my chest I followed the strand around a corner. I just knew its path was going to take me up a mountain. But as I rounded the corner, I heard the Lord speak from heaven, “Throw me the ball!” Using all of my strength I wrapped my arms around it. Then feeling like Atlas carrying the world, I positioned myself under the ball and hurled it toward Heaven. As it disappeared into the sky, I heard “It’s a good thing I know how to knit!” Joy instantly invaded the atmosphere.
I love that our Heavenly “Daddy” has an individual relationship with each one of His children. In thirty seconds, He was able to download a chapter full of understanding. The Lord knew what knitting meant to me. He knew the analogy would both encourage and comfort me. He also knew it would cause me to bust out laughing.
God can knit. But I can’t!
My first attempt at knitting was a disaster!
When I was in seventh grade, I asked my grandmother to show me how to knit. After observing her for an afternoon, she presented me with some knitting needles and a ball of yarn. Since I was a kid who enjoyed a little adventure, I decided I would take my knitting outside. After positioning a board across the top of the vertical bars of our old jungle gym, I ascended with two containers-an oatmeal carton full of yarn and knitting needles and a can containing my most recent catch-my pet frog. I carefully placed the can with the frog on one end of the board and the oatmeal container on the opposite end. Then I plopped down in the middle.
After casting my stitches onto the first needle, I pushed the second needle into the first cast stitch, wrapped the yarn around it and lifted it just as I had observed. Unfortunately, my stitches were too tight and my board was too shaky. Instead of lifting the stitch, the edge of the board lifted and I propelled toward the ground, slamming the bridge of my nose and my eye sockets on the bar below. Two black eyes, one knitting needle wound, and dead frog later, I decided knitting was not for me.
When my children were young, I gave knitting another try. After a couple of days of frustration, I managed to produce a few lop-sided squares. It was then that I decided to take up crocheting.
I might not be able to knit, but I am so very thankful that God can.
God knits us together.
Last year my daughter Rebekah learned how to knit. She has made an assortment of accessories and is currently knitting socks (a pair of her socks is pictured at the top of this blog) and sweaters. When Rebekah begins a new project, she doesn’t just start knitting and then see what will show up. A lot of preparation is involved. Before the first stitch, she must decide what she wants to create, purchase the necessary needles, yarn, patterns, etc. and estimate how much time each project will take.
Psalm 139:13 tells us that God knits us together in our mothers’ wombs. I love that! No one is an accident! Each one of us has been planned on purpose for a purpose. Rebekah doesn’t start knitting a scarf and end up with socks. What she has in her mind takes form in her hands. I don’t know about you, but when life gets heavy, I sometimes start to doubt God’s goodness and my identity. In the midst of suffering, the enemy wants to fill our heads with lies, telling us that we are unlovable, unacceptable, or unplanned. Whatever you might be thinking, you are not a mistake! You have been knitted together with love and great detail. God, the master artist, knew exactly what He was doing. He saw you before you were created and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You are amazing! You are incredible! You are the only you there will ever be! “You, my precious friend, are fearfully and wonderfully made!”
God knits all for good.
Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. In my vision when I heard God say, ”It’s a good thing I can knit!” I also thought about Joseph. Jacob’s favored son was betrayed by his brothers, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, accused of rape, and thrown in prison, where he was forgotten by the one man who promised to help him. Talk about some bad turns of events! But when it looked as nothing would change, he is suddenly remembered, freed, elevated to rule, and restored to his family. In the midst of Joseph’s suffering nothing made sense, but in the end, he realized God had been knitting all together for good: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).
Maybe you too can relate to the vision of the ball of yarn. Do you feel overwhelmed by events in your life? Are you pushing a heavy load wondering what’s around the next corner? If so, my friend, know that same God who created you knows everything about you and your circumstances. He knit you together, and He is knitting the circumstances in your life together. He loves you and He is ready, able and willing to take anything you can throw at Him. Give it all to Him and trust that in unseen realms He is busy knitting something beautiful for you!
Prayer: Lord, Thank you for loving me. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Truly I am “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Thank you for forgiving my sins, because they were cast upon Jesus at the cross. Thank you that you are working for good everything the enemy has intended for evil. You are my safe place, and I can confidently cast all my cares upon you because you care for me. Thank you for loving me and guiding me every step of the way. In Jesus’ name…Amen!
May you be abundantly blessed!
Jeannie
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV).