Following Directions
by Tanya Person
A few years ago I saw a picture of some crocheted lacy hearts. I liked them and decided to make them. I copied the instructions, prepared the yarn, and started. But something seemed wrong because the work wasn’t looking right. When I checked the pattern I found I was following it correctly, so I continued. I decided to trust that the instructions would help me produce the finished product in the picture. Happily when the pattern was followed through to the end, the result was like the picture.
It made me think about the pattern that God has set for our lives. God said to the captives in Babylon that he would set them free and bring them back to their land again. We read “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). We worship the same God and just as he had plans for His people then, I believe that he has plans for us today.
We may have a vision of what His plans might be for us. But as we’re following Him we sometimes don’t understand what’s happening because we can’t see the whole picture. It doesn’t always look like we’re becoming the finished product we imagined. We must remember God has the complete and final picture in mind. He connects us with different people in ways we don’t expect. We need to trust Him enough to keep following ‘the pattern’, which He sets out for us in His Word.
Then, one day, we will look back and see what God has done – how He has been working out His best pattern for our lives. All that’s required of us is to keep on following the pattern one day at a time and leave Him to create the picture!
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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