It all started innocently enough, I sat down one evening with my crochet and it started pulling too tightly. Drats, I had a knot in my yarn. I worked it out and kept going..another tug...time to stop.

I decided to figure out why it kept getting knotted and about 15 minutes later it was a complete and utter mess.

This had never happened with a skein of yarn before. So, I decided to try from the other free end and the situation grew worse. Here I was trying to make a lovely blanket and wanted some time to unwind before bed.  However, my frustration level was rising and my hands felt as jumbled as my yarn. I was tempted to cut the yarn, tie it back together and go on my merry way. However, I felt a gentle nudge from Holy Spirit to work out the complete mess I had. 

So, I spent the next several evenings watching Hallmark movies and untangling the knots, some were small and tight, some were big and easy to pull through the confusing maze. Several of the sections were wrapped with yarn "fuzzies" that were easier to get rid of with my scissors. Snip, snip, and another section of yarn was free!

After 4 nights and almost 3 hours of slow work, I was able to re-wind the yarn into a new, neat ball and finish that section of my blanket!

I have thought about this experience several times in recent days. I see parallels to my spiritual journey. As I look back on my life, I can see things that felt like complete messes. However, God took great care of me, untangled my heart, my mind, and even my circumstances. He set my feet in a wide-open place where I could run free and see His grace and provision. 

"I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]." Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

I love that promise! Jesus will completely grow me up into all that He created me to be, which is way more beautiful than my blanket.