Trust in the Big Picture

Isaiah 43:8-13 
 

Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

    who are deaf, yet have ears!

Let all the nations gather together,

    and let the peoples assemble.

Who among them declared this,

    and foretold to us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,

    and let them hear and say, “It is true.”

10 You are my witnesses, says the Lord,

    and my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

    nor shall there be any after me.

11 I, I am the Lord,

    and besides me there is no savior.

12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,

    when there was no strange god among you;

    and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.

13 I am God, and also henceforth I am He;

    there is no one who can deliver from my hand;

    I work and who can hinder it?
 
 
The word of God that Isaiah shares with God’s people is given to them while they are in exile in Babylon. God has not abandoned them, and God will never abandon those whom God has chosen.
 
God is saying, “I am God.” Simple as that. There is no other. Besides God, there is no savior. You are in God’s hands, and no one can deliver from God’s hand. No one can hinder God’s work.
 
This word given to these people at this time is powerful. Sometimes we need to hear God’s perspective on where we find ourselves today.
 
Corrie Ten Boom wrote the book The Hiding Place. Ten Boom and her family hid several Jews in their home above the family clock shop in Amsterdam during World War II. The family was caught and sent to concentration camps as a result.
 
Ten Boom quotes a poem in her book that I share below. While I don’t completely agree with her theological take, what I do appreciate is the trust in God to see the big picture better than we can. It’s like a mountain climber whose face is up against the wall of the sharp incline, unable to see the path forward. God’s perspective, a wider view of things, may be what we need.
 
Here is the poem – “Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem) quoted by 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.

 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, Master Weaver, you have declared and proclaimed and saved. Help me to put my trust in you. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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