The Upper Room. It’s the place where Jesus and his disciples celebrated Passover before Jesus’ crucifixion. Do you think the disciples understood the significance of that night? Do you think they realized that in less than 24 hours, Jesus would be dead? Whether they understood the impact of that evening or not, I’m sure that Jesus did. And I believe it is because he knew what was coming that he chose his words so carefully that night.

When we look at Jesus’ words, we discover his promises – promises that Jesus knew his disciples would need to make it through the initial blow of his tragic death and to continue his ministry even when they endured persecution. They are the promises that we need to be reminded of even now.

Recently, we celebrated my son’s birthday at a local pizza place that entertained the kids with a few magic tricks. I watched as the kids were mesmerized by a simple trick the magician performed for them. They wanted to know how he did it. They wanted to know how it worked. They wanted so badly to understand.

We all want understanding, don’t we? We want to know when God is going to open a door for us. We want to know how He’s going to answer our prayers. We want to figure out His will for our lives and the bigger picture of where we fit in to His master plan.

Jesus knew that his disciples would long for understanding as well. They didn’t know what was about to happen through his crucifixion. They didn’t know that in just 24 hours they would be sitting around, feeling lost, questioning everything they had experienced over the past three years.

But Jesus knew. And because he knew, he promised understanding.

After that, [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:5-7)

With Jesus, we have the promise of understanding. What does this mean, exactly? This means that everything might not make sense right now, but someday it will! That “someday” might not be until we’re in Heaven and talking to Jesus face to face, but someday we will see that the chaos we experienced, the questions we screamed, and the confusion we felt were all being held together by a loving, organized, master planner who was weaving our lives for His glory.

Is God confusing to you? Are you having trouble understanding why He’s not acting faster or slower or nicer or just differently? Understanding will come. Right now, you see just a puzzle piece when God sees the whole puzzle. You see what’s happening on stage while God sees what’s happening in the wings. You see the underside of a tapestry when God sees the upper. Consider this poem attributed to Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom.

Life is but a Weaving

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth 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 silence
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.

 

 In what area of your life are you longing for understanding right now?