“There is hope for your future,” declares the Lord, “And your children will return to their own territory” (Jer. 31:17). Is there anyone who needs to hear those words? God promises there is hope for your future and if He says there is hope for your future, that is all we need to know.

A young couple, Walter and Grace, found a perfect log cabin for their honeymoon. Deep in the forest, it looked like the setting for the best possible get-away. Until…a woodpecker kept them awake each night with his incessant pecking. Peck, peck, pecking for hours on end. Then, when a heavy rainstorm hit the cabin, they realized the bird had pecked holes all the way through the roof. This miserable situation could have been enough to ruin their time together but instead, they chose to incorporate this woodpecker into their creativity. Today, we know them as the creators of the cartoon series, “Woody Woodpecker”.

For believers in Christ, assured that God has a plan for everything in our lives, this story echoes the principle that God can allow unpleasant events with a higher purpose than just an opportunity for us to grumble.

We were camping last week in Traverse City and of course, on the second day, it rained. I really believe that camping and rain are synonymous because most camping trips involve rain at some point. I’ve been tempted to say we’re going ‘raining’ instead of camping. God showed me something interesting, however, something I have seen from Him on many occasions and that is, when difficulties come, He is in the midst of working out a better plan, a plan that may require a shift for awhile.

The next day of our campout was clear so off we went to kayak the Crystal River. Because of the previous day’s rain, the river was up and easily navigable, but I did notice a few areas were shallow and required some maneuvering. Then, I remembered the rain the day before and knew why it was an easy ride. The river was just enough higher that we didn’t need to get out of the kayak to portage shallow waters as we likely would have if it hadn’t rained. Thank you, God.

Granted, that was a simple example but the point is that God is always at work behind the scenes of every event in our lives. He clearly promises that there is hope for our future. We may not see how all the threads mesh together yet but we can be assured He is the Master Weaver. Consider this poem by B.M. Franklin.

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving

Between my Lord and me;

I cannot chose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the underside.

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weavers skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.