In the Blink of an Eye

But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

(from “Stitched in Christ” by TerryAnn Porter available on Amazon)

I was working on a doll that I was crocheting for my grandchild which was done in a way that had the clothes worked into the pattern. This means there will be color changes along the way.

I was half way through the project, mindlessly making the stitches, when I looked back at the doll and realized something was wrong. This outfit didn’t look well at all crocheted into the doll body. It was then I realized that although I made the color change for the waistband, I missed the color change back on row 17 for the bodice. Can you say FROG!  (you know, rip-it  rip-it  rip-it).

On another project I noticed the scarf I was working on had become quite askew. No more did I have the straight even edge that looked so smooth the first 6 inches of the project.  Now, nearly 24 inches later I picked up a wrong needle from the basket it was laying in. I had knitted the last 18 inches on one needle of appropriate size and one 2 sizes smaller.

These events are very similar to the day I woke up with a smile on my face, plans for the weekend all set, only to receive a phone call that my dear friend has passed away a few hours prior. “In the blink of eye, disaster!” (Psalm 73:19)

Jesus was escorted into Jerusalem on what we now call “Palm Sunday”. (see the story in John 12)  When people heard he was coming to the Feast; they gathered palm branches and shouted as he approached, “Hosanna” “Blessed is the King of Israel”. (see John 12)

A few days later these same people stood in a crowd in front of Pilate and cried out “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (see John 19)

So quickly things change. Every day offers new challenges and new rewards. That dark day was brightened when the women went to the tomb and found it empty. (see John 20) A sad day quickly became bright as Jesus appeared to many who loved him.

Your life, like the wrongly knit scarf, can change with or without notice. Every day offers new opportunities. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” is our promise in Psalm 30:5.

God is a steady fortress,(Psalms 91:2)  unchanging (Hebrews 6:7),  ever present (Proverbs 15:3). When things turn suddenly to dark, hold tight to the hand of God. Walk with Him daily, and He will be at your side. Stay with Him when the stitches of your life are straight and smooth; and He will be there when you miss that color change or drop a stitch in your life. “Hold tight to God, your God, just as you have done up to now.” (Joshua 23:8)