The Master Quilter

The Master Quilter

10-12-2020

The other day I got this picture in my mind as I was engaging in a conversation with someone.  It has really continued to stay at the front of my mind.  I got this picture of a quilt.  I could see just a glimpse of what the finished quilt may look like, but oh so briefly.  What I ended up seeing more of was the many pieces of fabric.  Many of them seemed to be held in a container of some sort.  What I ended up hearing and realizing was simply this.  “You must give me the fabric pieces, so I can piece the quilt together to finish the work I started.”

So many things in our life represent the pieces of fabric needed to make a beautiful quilt.  Some of those pieces represent memories, circumstances, decisions, control, as well as many other things.  We hang onto them.  We hold them and maybe even put them on the shelf for a period.  If all we do is hold the pieces of fabric in our container or our hands, it will never be able to be used as part of a beautiful masterpiece in the quilt artistry.  We must be willing to let go of those pieces and hand them over to the master quilter.  We must allow him to piece and stitch things together.  We must be willing to allow him to trim the frayed edges and loose threads.  We must truly relinquish control and go through the necessary steps and process in order to become a unique and beautifully crafted masterpiece that can be used as well as tell of his wondrous handiwork.

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”  He has the design of our quilt already planned.  A quilt that serves to offer hope of his goodness.  A quilt cannot serve its useful purpose if the pieces are not handed over.  God’s plans for our life are limited if we do not hand ourselves over to his will and ways for our life.

Another one of my favorites that seems to fit this quilt says this in Philippians 1:6. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  He will be faithful to work the quilt of our life and one day, when we meet him face to face we will see the wondrous beauty of his finished product of our life.  What we are willing to hand over and give him determines the finished product and size of our quilt.  All those unused pieces we try to hold onto, that he could not use and trim while we are here on earth are pieces of our quilts story.  Those unused pieces may represent those questions God asks us when we meet him face to face.

Those extra worn fabric pieces, those stained fabric pieces, those brand-new vibrant pieces, are we willing to let our exhaustion, our hurts, and failures, our most treasured possessions keep him from the much larger finished quilt he has for us?

To be honest, I am struggling to give up some of the pieces that involve trusting his timing and healing for my life.  Health issues have been quite a struggle lately affecting many things.  I find myself exhausted wanting to cling to my pieces of the quilt rather than hand them over to trust his process.  I cry because the pieces are worn and stained, and I sometimes simply cannot see the beauty of such pieces being part of a beautiful quilted masterpiece.  The reality is he wants to take my frustration, and tear-stained exhausted pieces and blanket me with his love.  He wants to wrap me in the quilt of his love he is piecing together just for me.  I just need to be willing to let go and give it all to him.  All the quilt pieces of life.