Tangled Messes

I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

I will bring the blind by a way they know not; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness into light before them.

Psalm 57:2, Romans 8:26 NASB 1977, Isaiah 42:16a AMPC

If you’re over 35, I bet you’ve experienced the yearly Christmas-light detangling ritual. It seemed that no matter how carefully the lights were wound, twist-tied and put back in a box, they came out the next year in one big ball of mangled, interlocked green wire and lights. The more you pulled and attempted to unravel the lights, the more knots you inevitably created. Oh, the “anguish” and frustration of it all!  Of course, now we have almost exclusively, the neat and tidy pre-lit Christmas trees. Amateurs.

This morning while thinking through a few serious life situations, and talking to the Lord about them, I admitted that I wasn’t even sure how to pray. Where to begin. What “end” to pull first that might unravel the difficult circumstances of those close to me. I held up, as it were, the ball of Christmas lights. The tangled, woven together hot-mess challenges, and had no clue where to begin. What to even ask the Lord for.

Have you ever been there?

Our tangled messes come in all shapes and colors, don’t they? Childhood challenges, regret, grief, relational issues, illness, betrayal, dashed hopes and expectations, or a million other things. Often tangled into a knot of, “I don’t even know where to begin” mess. And no pre-lit tree in sight.

As I continued talking with the Lord, it was almost as if He tapped me on the shoulder with one hand, as He held out the other hand. Reminding me of a truth that I (evidently) need to learn and relearn. Hand Him the tangled mess. That’s right. Give up trying to find just the right prayer to pray or light string to pull. Hand the whole ball of tangled mess to Him. And then trust Him with the outcome.

Let God do the untangling of your past or pain or regret.
Simply turn and hand it to Him.

Becky White

Whatever tangled mess scenario confronts you today, allow me to encourage you to hand the whole thing over to Him. He cares for you. He will not forsake you. Allow Him to do what only He can do. Wrapping it all up with the simple request that you want whatever will bring Him the most glory. Whatever that means and whatever that looks like. He is more than able to do above and beyond, all we dare ask for or imagine. Even untangling our Christmas light scenarios.

Father God, I hand this ball of tangled challenges to You. Placing it in Your strong and faithful hands. Though sometimes with trembling lips, I speak out loud that I trust You Lord. Thank You for Your great faithfulness to answer Your children’s prayers, even when we have no idea what or how to pray! I love You precious Saviour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Learning to Trust Him as we walk along STONY PATHS – 09.24.2021Download