What Can You Do When Life is Confusing? Where can you turn?
Anything with a needle and thread, she could whip into a masterpiece.
She was an incredible seamstress, she knitted, she did counted cross stitch, and she crocheted. Every piece she created was beautiful, intricate in detail, and quite fantastic.
She was my grandmother, and I tried to follow in her footsteps.
First, we tried sewing with a pattern.
Then, we moved to knitting, cross-stitching, and crocheting. Whether it was my lack of patience or lack of skill, I don’t really know. But, I could never really master her sewing skills.
Finally, we discovered something I could do – hook rugs.
Maybe you’ll remember these?
There was a hook that you held in your hand, thousands of short pieces of colored yarn, and a large piece of plastic with a picture stamped on the back.
To complete a hook rug, all you had to do was hook the yarn onto the correct section of the colored plastic. You just followed the picture. (I must say that I was really quite awesome at this “skill!”)
Looking back on those days, I also remember something interesting about the hook rugs…
From the front of the plastic, you could not see the picture that you were creating. It was just white plastic with pieces of yarn hooked to it.
In fact, to get the whole picture, you had to flip the plastic over. The real “pattern” was on the backside of the plastic, only visible to the one who was creating it.
In recent days, I’ve thought about how our lives are a lot like those hook rugs.
For the most part, we can only see the front of the plastic of our lives. Some pieces of yarn are sticking out, but we have no idea what the finished picture will look like (or even what it’s supposed to be.)
Only Almighty God knows and can see the whole picture for our lives! Click To Tweet
The Lord has a pattern and a plan, and He is very slowly and methodically creating our masterpiece.
Some days, this is very hard.
Why did He allow this or that?
What is going on?
Why is this happening?
What on earth is God up to?
Why did He do this instead of that?
I think we all reach points in our lives when we wonder what is going on! What is God doing? What is He up to?
On those days and in those moments when we really don’t understand, what can we do?
How should we respond when God and His ways make NO SENSE at all? Click To Tweet
However, I do believe there are some promises from scripture that we can cling to when life gets confusing.
What can we do when life is confusing? We can hold fast to these great Bible truths!
What can we do when life is confusing? We can hold fast to these great Bible truths! Click To Tweet
Sometimes, we try to understand what God is doing and what He is thinking. It’s never going to happen! He’s God! We aren’t!
His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts. He’s not held back by sin or by any baggage, dysfunction, or prejudice.
God is completely holy. He is totally perfect. He is in control of all things – including our lives!
Our God is all-wise and all-knowing. Sometimes we just have to trust that He knows best! Click To Tweet
Isaiah 55:8-9 is the text I go to when I’m doubting God’s wisdom,
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are FAR BEYOND ANYTHING YOU COULD IMAGINE.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Oh, what a relief this one is! God is God; we are not.
Our God is able to handle the cares of this world, the cares of people, and the cares of our lives.
He is not limited by anything. He is God! Click To Tweet
When I question God and His ways, I often have to park myself in Isaiah 40.
For example, here is an encouraging passage: (verses 12-14, 18, 22)
“And, who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Or, who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
To whom can you compare God?
What image can you find to resemble him?
God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!”
God always does what is best for us. Always! Every single time!
And, He can coordinate my best with your best. He is wise enough to do what is best for every living soul on this planet!
Correspondingly, I don’t have to send Him instructions. I don’t have to try to micromanage God. He is completely able to manage it all by Himself!
Our God is intricately involved in the details of my life and of yours. Click To Tweet
My favorite promise on this subject comes from Jeremiah 29:11,
“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
One of my sweet mentors taught me this truth! Regularly she would say to me, “Melanie, remember, God is FOR you.”
So, when I would walk into uncomfortable situations, I would remind myself, “The Lord is FOR me!”
In the same fashion, you can do this too!
As you are walking through life’s challenges and difficulties, remind yourself, “The Lord is FOR me!”
Where do I get this truth?
Check out Psalm 118:6,
“THE LORD IS FOR ME, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”
Oh, I love this promise from the Bible!
He is with us! The Lord will never leave us or forsake us!
Specifically, we can take this promise to the bank – no matter what is happening around us. No matter who is leading our country. And, no matter what is happening with your health.
Nor how low your bank account goes.
Or, what is happening at your church or on your job.
No matter how crazy things get… God is always, always, always with us. Click To Tweet
To point out, you can find this promise throughout scripture. I chose to highlight Isaiah 41:10,
“Don’t be afraid, FOR I AM WITH YOU.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
For, I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
Then, I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brains to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
Again, I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
Then, I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities.
I asked for everything so I could enjoy life.
Instead, He gave me life so I could enjoy everything.
I received nothing I wanted, I received everything I needed.
(Author Unknown)
All things work for our good
Though sometimes we can’t
See how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what’s best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can’t see Him,
Remember you’re never alone
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
And, when you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
And, when you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart
He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
So don’t live as those who have no hope,
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart
He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
And, when you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart
When you don’t understand
When you don’t see His plan
And, when you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart
(Song by Babbie Mason)
What can we do when life is confusing?
And, which promises are your “go to” verses?
Also, how can I pray for you today?
I always enjoy hearing from you!
Want more hope?
Check out these articles: Nine Awesome Affirmations for Difficult Days, Seven Bible Verses to Give You Strength, or What to do When Your Heart is Shattered.
And, you may want to read these words from Chuck Swindoll on Tough Days.
Would you share this article with a friend, co-worker, or family member?
Or, maybe you can send it to a friend or family member?
This blog occasionally uses affiliate links and may contain affiliate links. Additionally, Melanie Redd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Also, for more on my disclosure policy, click HERE.
© Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Further, excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
