October 28

So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him. — John 13:4-5 BSB

“What I am doing, you do not understand now—but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7)

At this moment, Peter couldn’t grasp why the Messiah, whom he envisioned as a king with a crown and throne, was instead kneeling before him with a basin and towel. It wasn’t until after the cross and resurrection that Peter would understand.

This saying of Jesus applies far beyond Peter’s immediate situation. There are many things in life that we don’t understand as we go through them. While we are in the middle of difficulties, God’s purposes can seem confusing. But later, when we look back, we often see how everything fit together for good.

Jacob once thought that everything was working against him. Yet he lived to see that what he had thought were hardships and losses were actually God’s ways of bringing about good in his life.

The same is true for us. We often only see the tangled side of life’s tapestry, full of knots and confusion. But God sees the other side, the beautiful design He is weaving. In time, everything will be made clear—afterward.