Have you ever looked at the backside of an intricate tapestry or piece of weaving or embroidery and noticed how incredibly different it looks from the finished side? The backside is covered with knots and jumbled bits of thread, tangled and twisted bits of color with no rhyme or reason. Just looking at the back gives no clue to the front, the artists intent muddied amidst the greens and blues, scarlets and ambers, colorful yet utterly chaotic when viewed from the back.

Loose ends dominate the work.

But as soon as you turn the piece over, the artist’s intent is obvious, the picture clears, the jumbled colors make sense. No loose ends found anywhere, just a beautiful piece of work, woven by the artist’s hands, telling a captivating story and suddenly making complete sense.

I’m in a season where I feel like I’ve been staring at the backside of a tapestry forever. Everywhere I look, all I see are loose ends. So many ‘ifs’ and no certainty. I’m a planner by nature but it’s super hard to plan when you don’t know what you’re planning for!

Do you feel like that too?

Questions loom.
Deadlines extend.
Deals fall through.
Timelines implode.
Plans go completely awry.

And the loose threads and loose ends hang there, their pretty greens and blues taunting your heart:

“You’re questions won’t ever be answered.”

“If they are answered, the answer will be no.”

“You’re spinning your wheels.”

“We’ll get back to you in a month.”

“Just be patient.”

Why is it so hard to wait, to be patient, to let the doors open on their own? Why is it so hard to trust?

I’m in a waiting season, waiting for my book to be published, waiting for major house renovations to be completed, waiting for business issues to come to an end. But so far, no sign of closure on any of them.

Everything feels stalled and life is one big holding pattern.

Why is it so hard to be patient? To wait for the doors to open on their own?

Why is it so hard to trust?

In the waiting lies the test. Learning to be patient with His timing is a mark of maturity, a mark of character. It goes against human nature to let God’s plan unfold and not try to hurry things up! It’s hard to remember He’s actually more concerned about our future than we are. He see’s everything, the end from the beginning. But us? We see through a glass, darkly.

Here’s the thing, God is just as concerned for our lives as we are and in fact, He’s way ahead of us, working in our future, taking care of details we haven’t even thought about. He’s getting everything lined up for the next season. Heaven is absolutely buzzing on your behalf my friend!

Thankfully, I’m learning a lot as I wait for issues to resolve. I’m hopeful the five things I’m learning will help you too.

God has a plan. He alone knows the end from the beginning and He alone knows exactly what we need right now. (Clearly I need to grow a little more patient!)
His plan has a purpose. I want to think it’s all about me but it’s so not. His plans go far beyond my little life. God looks at the generations ahead, deep into the coming decades and He’s weaving a masterpiece we can’t even begin to understand.
Whatever His purpose is, it’s good. Romans 11:34 reminds us, “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” I can’t know His reasons but I can know this: Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I can rest in this truth whether my life turns out the way I’d hoped or not! All the threads are going to make sense when the time comes for me to turn the tapestry over and see it from His perspective.
The waiting is the big tell. Do I love God for who He is or for what He can give me? Until we get this one right, He might just let us keep waiting.

He’s letting me grow in maturity. I can possess every gift of the Spirit but until I’m producing the fruit of the Spirit, I’m not yet mature. Hebrews 6:1 says, “Let us go on to maturity.” Indeed.

If your life is filled with loose ends and unanswered questions, know there’s a reason. Trust His goodness as you walk through this season. I know the day will come when it will all make sense, when you hold the tapestry in your hands, turn it over and say, “Oh, how beautiful! I’m so glad I waited. Now it all makes sense!”

Friend, leave it to Him. He’s weaving something beautiful in your life even if all you can see is a jumble of threads, colors and knots. One day you’ll get to see it from His perspective and you will rejoice that you trusted in Him and not the loose ends!

Kate Battistelli is the author of Growing Great Kids-Partner with God to Cultivate His Purpose in Your Child’s Life, published by Charisma House. Her newest book, The God Dare, published by Barbour Books, will release in 2019. She’s mom to GRAMMY award-winning artist Francesca Battistelli and Mimi to her 4 children. She’s been married to her best friend Mike for 35 years and lives just outside of Nashville. Kate loves to cook and blogs about food and faith at www.KateBattistelli.com You can follow her on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook.