No Loose Ends

He bequeaths us His manger, from which to learn how God came down to man; and His Cross to teach us how man may go up to God. – Charles Spurgeon

While having our devotions the other night, Roy and I read this quote by Charles Spurgeon. As we talked about the beauty of God’s design and how His plan came full circle, Roy made a comment that floored me.

“God doesn’t have loose ends.”

Let that sink in for a moment. God doesn’t have loose ends. He doesn’t leave things unfinished due to forgetfulness or a lack of attention to details. He never stops caring and working for the good of His people. It can seem that way at times from our human perspective, I know. Many of us have that area in our life that just looks like one jumbled mess of loose ends, or maybe that is your whole life at the moment.

You see jumbled threads and details that seem to have been long forgotten, but God sees differently. He sees the threads coming together to form the masterpiece that is your life. He is pulling and tugging, tying and knotting, sewing and weaving in ways that you can not even see yet.

Picture Joseph. Now there’s a life that seems like a tangled mess. Let’s see, sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongly accused while dutifully serving, and forgotten in prison – all after being receiving a dream from God as a young man. Anyone looking in would think that God forgot about that dream He had given to Joseph. It was just a loose end in his life, but God doesn’t have loose ends. Joseph rose from prisoner to hero in a matter of moments. God had placed Joseph exactly where he needed to be and in His perfect timing, He swiftly and neatly tied up the loose ends of Joseph’s life.

You see, God is not a god who forgets the details of our life. He works through the detail, even the painful ones. He used slavery to humble a young man whose pride alienated him from his brothers and to place him in a country that he would have never chosen to go to. He used Potipher’s house to teach him character and discipline, attributes he would need to save his family and the country. Through prison, he taught him to lead others and that though man might forget him, God never would.

Each step of Joseph’s life was purposeful. No matter how ragged the threads of his life felt, God was working it for his good and for the saving of many people.

This is how God works. He does not forget. He does not quit caring. He does not give up. Like the seamstress weaves the tapestry, God uses each moment of our life for His purpose and His glory.

In life, it is tempting to feel as if God has left our tapestry in a tangled mess with no hope of completion, but your story is not through.

Joseph waited thirty years to see his dream fulfilled. Lazarus sat in the tomb for four days before Christ spoke life. It took Abraham 25 years receive his promise. David faced an unsupportive father, a giant, and a jealous and violent king on his way to the throne. Mary of Magdalene faced sorrow and grief for three days before her resurrected Savior met her in the garden.

God’s timing is not always ideal in our eyes, but it serves a purpose. Had Joseph been released from prison earlier, he would not have been needed to interpret the king’s dreams; and he would never have rose to the position of power to help save those around him. David needed to grow before he was ready to become king. Abraham needed to learn to trust God. Christ had to die in order to be raised victorious. Each moment of pain served a purpose. Each moment of waiting had a reason. Everything was working towards the purpose God had.

So here is what I want to encourage you with, the God who started the work in your life will complete it. When it looks hopeless, painful, or impossible, keep walking because our God always comes full circle. He does not have loose ends. He sees you. He knows you. He is working when you can’t see for reasons you wouldn’t understand yet even if you knew them.

Wait, don’t rush. Trust and keep walking in obedience. The “loose ends” you see now are just pieces being woven into the tapestry He designed for you before you were born. He will fulfill the dreams and plans He has given you.

Our God doesn’t have loose ends.