Trusting God with the Threads
A devotional by Joyce M. Averils
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”—Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
This past week, I found myself in a quiet, unplanned moment of purpose.
I had a chance conversation with a young college student who reminded me just how much we all long for direction and reassurance. As we talked, she mentioned she was majoring in criminal justice and had been thinking about going to law school. But then her voice softened, and she said, “I’ve heard law school is really hard…and even then, there’s no guarantee I’ll have a good life if I become a lawyer.”
Her words stirred something in me. I could see the hope in her eyes, but I also saw the fear—fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of disappointment. And I understood. Because I’ve been there.
I shared with her a bit of my own journey—how I went to law school, became a lawyer, and eventually a judge. I didn’t sugarcoat it. I told her the truth: There were some high moments and some hard ones. I made mistakes. There were seasons when I cried out to God, wondering if I had missed something, messed up something, or misunderstood His plan for me. But I also told her this: There are no guarantees that law school—or any career path—will automatically lead to a good life. A good life isn’t found in a title, a paycheck, or a five-year plan. A good life is found when God is at the center of it.
I looked at that young sister and told her, “If you give God first place in your life, He will walk with you through every season—the joyful ones and the painful ones. God will make your life beautiful in His time.”
As I said those words, I smiled, because I meant them. My life doesn’t look like what I imagined it would. In some ways, it looks completely different. But I can say with confidence and peace: God is making it beautiful.
I’ve come to see life as a tapestry. If you’ve ever looked at the back of a tapestry, you know it’s not pretty. It’s a mess of threads and knots and loose ends. But flip it over, and you see the beauty of the design. Every knot has a purpose. Every thread plays a part in creating the picture.
That’s how God works with our lives. From the outside—or even to our own eyes—it may look jumbled and chaotic. Maybe it feels like nothing is coming together. But God is weaving something intentional. Something eternal. Something beautiful.
There’s an old gospel song performed by Shirley Caesar and the lyrics say we shouldn’t take anything for our journey. What that means is this: We shouldn’t resent or try to discard the experiences, good or bad, that have shaped us along the way. Every moment, even the painful ones, has value. I feel that deep in my soul. Every trial, every setback, every hard “no” that led to a better “yes”, and all of it has been part of the tapestry God is weaving in me.
Your life may not look the way you thought it would. Maybe divorce, illness, childlessness, unemployment or heartbreak have left you wondering if your story is still worth telling. I want you to hear this: God is not done. He is still writing. Still weaving. Still creating beauty.
Isaiah 61:3 reminds us that God gives us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” That’s not just a poetic promise, it’s real. He is the only One who can turn our ashes into something glorious.
So, wherever you are today, whether you feel like the back of the tapestry or haven’t seen the pattern come together yet, hold on. Trust the Master Weaver. He’s not finished with you yet.
And when it’s all said and done, you’ll look back and smile too, knowing that through every twist and turn, God was making it beautiful.
Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for being the Master Weaver of my life. Even when the threads feel tangled and the pattern is unclear, help me to trust that You are creating something beautiful. May my life reflect Your glory, even in the waiting. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection #1: “I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey” by Shirley Caesar. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #2: “God is in This Story” by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #3: “When It’s All Been Said and Done” by Robin Mark. Listen to it here.
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Author Bio:
Joyce M. Averils is an attorney by education and a retired judge who currently works as a Life Purpose and Business Empowerment Coach.
She attended the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and Social Sciences, with a concentration in Political Science in May 1981. Upon graduation from the University, she attended The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where she graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in June 1984. Joyce was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November of 1984.
During her legal career, she served as the legal advisor for an episode of the American television program “Designing Women”. She also successfully argued a zoning case before the Georgia Supreme Court.
Today, she is the founder of Averils Omnimedia, LLC. It includes Her RICH Coaching where she helps high-achieving women of faith create a purpose-aligned life and business through coaching programs, workshops, and retreats. She recently launched 26th & Alden Paper Design House which will release its first paper product in early 2025.
Joyce believes that God created women to accomplish the extraordinary by living their purpose, calling, and assignment. He has chosen every woman to fulfill a calling that is hers alone. And if she does not answer that calling, then that work will never be done. Joyce knows that there are people who are waiting for help that only God can give and only God can use His people to help each other. Joyce believes that we are called by God to help each other. She wants to answer that call and inspire others to answer it too so we can be of service to God.
Her life verse is John 17:4 (NIV), “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” In addition to being an entrepreneur, Joyce currently serves as the Associate Teaching Director for the Community Bible Study International class in Georgetown, SC.
Joyce makes her home on the coast of South Carolina.
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Connect with Joyce:
Website: www.herrichlife.com
Facebook Ministry: www.facebook.com/groups/thepurposealignedwoman
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/coachlabforaspiringchristianwomencoaches
Facebook: www.facebook.com/@HerRichLife
Instagram: www.instagram.com/herrichlife
Email address: joyce@herrichlife.com
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