Typically when someone speaks of “unravelling” it will usually be more in the context of ‘one coming undone’, as in “my life is unraveling and I dont know what to do?” Much like this quote from Jeff Foxworthy:

“Pride is the first step in people unraveling and companies unraveling and relationships unraveling.”

While the quote is absolutely true. For me, when God starts to unravel my world, it’s a good thing because only the Lord can undo what this world, the flesh, and the enemy will do to us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Ok, now bear with me. Sometimes we buck at what the Bible actually says, so before you bounce, just keep reading …ok? Many of us will agree that God is sovereign but what does that mean? Well, John Piper says it this way, “The sovereignty of God is unstoppable power and authority over all things, including the human will. Second, it is all in accord with infinite wisdom, infinite justice, infinite mercy through Jesus Christ.”

Are you still here?Ok, good! Keep reading….

If God is able to make paths straight is it not also possible for Him to make paths crooked?

Consider the work of God:
    who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:13

So… back to the tangle…

When we are entangled, then is it not God who has brought us to the entanglement? And if so, for what? Again a bit from John Piper, “His sovereignty is governed by his justice and his mercy. “For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18). Or, “Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!” (Romans 9:14). God never, never wrongs anyone. All that he does is righteous and just, but even justice is not the final and highest aim of God’s wisdom. The ultimate aim is that He be glorified for His mercy and His grace toward undeserving rebels. He sovereignly planned and accomplished salvation for sinners by the death of his Son. Because of that, we get a quote like this, from Romans 15:9: “And in order that the Gentiles [the nations] might glorify God for his mercy.”

In His mercy and grace – if our path is crooked or straight – He is at work! Hard to swallow? Ya! But if understood, wouldn’t that also change how we could respond? If we find ourselves in a tangle, it is for our learning and maturity in Christ, if we be in Him! Can you look at tangles this way? For many, to even be in a tangle, will cause us to do (much of what I have done) turn inward, become frustrated, isolate, wallowing in some self-pity and dont forget the unhappy turn of accusation, “this is not fair!” We’ve all been there and I think 2020-2022 did set up a nice sequence of events, situations, and circumstances to exacerbate the truth and reveal what was really hiding underneath. What behind the smile, the workaholism, and the veneer that many of us have been wearing? Is this easy to talk about or express? Well no. But how else can I live but honest. The truth is many of us have just had to suck it up to keep going. We would have bowed out a long time ago but for His grace. He has made us resilient and perservering. But we all will eventually hit a wall and come to see just where our souls are. By His glorious grace He is at work!

I met my wall this year. A few months ago, I started saying, “I am tired” and it has been a slow, slogging crawl to His throne room. Did you know you can do all the right things and still find yourself in all the wrong places on the inside? By His Grace…. alone… we will make it, can keep going, until we find true rest, and finally see what He has been trying to teach us all along.

We will continue to unpack the tangle in the next blog.

Thanks for listening,

Starla