I’ve heard the illustration that life is like a tapestry or a quilt where the backside is a mess – threads everywhere, seemingly just a disorganized chaos. But when you turn it over you see the front side – the beautiful side – the side that tells the story or shows the picture. How often do we get tangled in the messy threads of this life, wondering “how?” and “why?” when God really wants us to trust the Who of this life?
It can be a challenge to learn to trust the Everlasting Lord – the one whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours – the One who knows the cattle on a thousand hills and the hairs upon our heads. Yet God’s understanding of us is complete – our thoughts, the movements of our heart and soul, our steps, journeys, and future. If he who created the world can know each of us with such sweet intimacy, can we not trust that the picture he is forming on the “top side” of the tapestry of life is beautiful?
Everlasting Lord,
You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations; from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You created the earth and everything in it, and a thousand years in your sight are like a single day in ours. Your thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours; we praise you for your sovereignty and your mercy toward us, your creation. Help us to trust you, even when we cannot see what you are doing. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Woo us, by your Spirit, so we will seek you with all our hearts and find you. Have compassion on those who seek you and satisfy us with your unfailing love so we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Help us show our children and our children’s children the joy of following the Lord Jesus Christ. And may the favor of the Lord our God rest on us, establishing the work of our hands for us. In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen.
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1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90 NIV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9 NIV)
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)
“[E]very animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.” (Psalm 50:10-11 NIV)
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)
“Lord, you know everything there is to know about me.
2 You perceive every movement of my heart and soul,
and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.
3–4 You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book
and you know all the words I’m about to speak
before I even start a sentence!
You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.
5 You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way,
and in kindness you follow behind me
to spare me from the harm of my past.
You have laid your hand on me!
6 This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible!
Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.” (Psalm 139:1-6 TPT)