The
Wonder of God’s Hem and Hand
By Sharon Musgrove
“You hem me in, behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5 ESV
When
clothes shopping at a local discount store, I found a darling skirt that fit my
shape perfectly and blended into my current wardrobe seamlessly. It was as if this piece of clothing was the
missing item in a coordinating set, the fabric and pattern matching multiple
tops and sweaters in my closet. What a
find! Immediately, I put that skirt to
use, wearing it whenever possible and feeling great about the purchase.
And then I
washed the skirt.
As I
pulled the garment out of the delicate cycle, I noticed the bottom edge hanging
awkwardly in multiple places. On further
inspection, I could see that the fabric had been finished off with glue rather
than being hemmed with thread. This lack
of quality construction suggested that this piece of clothing was not made to
endure daily use.
My heart
sank. I knew that I needed to repair the
skirt before I could wear it again or risk the fraying of the fabric. I no longer viewed this piece of clothing as
a great buy, but as something cheap and haphazardly slapped together to make a
quick buck. I doubted creator of the
garment had any regard for reliability or for the reputation of the label.
I am so
glad that our Creator did not carelessly patch people together with a single
use mentality! Imagine if we fell apart
at the slightest challenge; tossed away at our first failure!
Psalm 139 is
a beautiful Bible passage that sings praises to the God that formed us. Unlike the cut and paste clothing I had
purchased; this scripture reveals how meticulous our Heavenly Father was in His
creation of every person.
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very
well.” Psalm 139:13-14 ESV
You and I
are God’s wonderful works. We are hand
made with great attention to detail.
Genesis 1:27 (ESV) states that “God created man in his own image.” We are patterned after the King!
Additionally,
Psalm 139:5a says of the Father, “You hem me in....” (ESV)
In
assembling a garment, the cut edges require a “hem”, a finished edge that keeps
the fabric from coming unraveled with use.
Typically, the cloth is folded over onto itself and sewn together
completely through from back to front.
This construction protects the integrity of the apparel from daily wear
and tear on its most vulnerable “cut” side.
In Psalm 139:5, this word hem is translated from the Hebrew word tsuwr
which literally means “to confine, bind, or enclose.”
There are
times when God’s ways seem confining.
Occasionally, I wish I was free to let loose with a retaliatory word or
return evil for evil. But His word
teaches that unloving behavior hurts me as it hurts others. So, without keeping my raw edge in check, I
would come undone.
But then
the last phrase of this verse, referring again to the Father, brings so much
comfort in rough times.
“...and [You] lay your hand upon
me.” Psalm 139:5b (ESV)
Have you
ever had someone protectively lay their hand on you when you’ve been hurt? It’s a move that says don’t worry, I’ll
handle this. God stepped in to
repair the fabric of our relationships with Jesus, His son. Christ’s death and resurrection was not a
patch on the irreparable, but rather a reweaving of the threads
themselves. He makes us whole again.
I don’t
have much sewing skill. In fact, I
thought I might purchase some fabric adhesive to rebind the hem of my
skirt. But then a friend suggested that
I take my clothing to a tailor who is the one who can expertly mend the
wrongs.
Seeking
help is the best answer. Not just for a
silly skirt, but for each tear that occurs in our hearts. We need the One who put us together to keep
us together.
Aren’t
God’s works wonderful?!!!
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.
Misty M. Beller
