I feel it in my hand.
Gossamer fine, delicate thread. I hold it loosely to be sure I don’t snap it. I’m following it. Spiderweb-delicate strand, it leads me; it pulls me forward.
Hand-over-hand I follow.
Sometimes, in deep, dark black nights I can’t actually see it anymore. I only feel it light and taut between my blind fingers. So soft, so insubstantial that sometimes I worry it doesn’t really exist. Sometimes, I doubt that this thin strand can lead me true.
I panic; what if I am lost?
But then the sun rises, it glints off the tiny strand and my heart beat calms, and I keep walking.
Pulling hand over hand toward I’m not sure where.
It’s been a long road. I wonder that the thread never gives out. It just keeps trailing between my fingers and I walk and walk and some days I stop walking. Some days I just sit with the thread draped over my knees and feel lost and lonely.
Time passes with tears and worry.
Prayer follows. Sometimes it feels hollow. Sometimes it feels true.
I disregard my feelings. I pick the thread up again between thumb and forefinger and stand up. I keep walking. I keep following. And I don’t let go the grip on that soft, delicate guide.
And then unexpectedly I’ve arrived.
He’s there, grinning giddy at me. He takes the thread out of my hand. I smile; I tell Him I can’t believe I made it. I was so worried the thread wasn’t real. Or that I would drop it, break it, or miss where it was leading me.
“Thread?” he says. And chuckles. “Some thread!”
I look back where I’ve come from. And this is what I see.
::
::
::“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
~Hebrews 11:1.
::
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Ohmygoodness I love this!
Thanks for writing your heart down day after day :) I’m praying for you & your sweet family this week!
Oh, I really like this!
Thank you for this wonderful start to my monday morning!
Hebrew’s 11:1 was my little ones’ memory verse for church yesterday. We also discussed it in our small groups. What a beautiful reminder and analogy of holding onto faith! Thank you!
just right. Yes, this.
thank you friend.
Hi, my name is Mandi. I found you on (in)courage, and now follow you on Twitter.
Thank you for this. Just what I needed this morning.
This was such a needed reminder. In the midst of a season where prayer feels hollow this was encouraging. Thank you.
I always enjoy your musing and the scripture.
Thanks!
A lot of past and a lot of future. Thanks for this encouragement.
This is beautiful. Even when we don’t feel “connected” to that thread, it’s still there, unweakened by our doubt or faith or trust, because it’s not made of flimsy yarn that breaks or splits or pulls. It is made of His faithfulness and grace. The unbreakableness that is so much larger than our deepest doubt, fear, or pain.
Beautiful reminder. Thank you!!!!
Perfect! Thank you!
Thank you for this! What a beautiful blog post. It totally reminded me of the Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, how Irene follows her grandmother’s thread safely out of danger, even though Curdie doesn’t feel it and doesn’t believe. Was that what you were thinking of?
That’s what it reminded me of, too! One of my favorite books as a little girl. :)
Thank you for reminding me to look back and see where I have come from in this most recent LONG season.
Really.
Thank You.
This was a fresh breath of hope for me.
A breath I needed in this moment.
It’s just good to remember that now, I see dimly, but then… I. will. see face to face.
And He and I… we’ll probably have a good laugh over many things I treat as delicate when they’re not.
Blessings to you, sister!
UM, I just found you, and I really wish it was Friday! Awesome idea. I can find five minutes on Fridays. Can’t wait to see what the topic is.
God Bless,
Teresa
Such a great picture of faith. Thank you.
~Kristin