Mess – because 8 days into the new year I already have messes in my life. Some of them are old messes I brought with me, and some of them are brand new. If we were all honest, you probably already have some mess in your new year too.
No matter how many times I go over things in my head, I cannot work them out. But He can. He is not surprised by my messy life. Nor is He so shocked by my mess that He can only walk away. He just wants me to want Him above everything else. Above all. He also wants me to trust Him, to give it all to Him, and to believe He is in control.
It’s been a messy season but the messiest seasons always produce the most beautiful flowers and the best fruit. What have I learned in this season? God can deal with our messes – especially the ones we can’t deal with anymore. He can turn them around so that they become the sweetest and most valuable times of our lives. Yes, valuable. It is always during these messiest seasons that He shows up to us the most, maybe due to how hard we are seeking Him during this time. In the midst of a trial, our eyes are always wide open, searching desperately for Him. These times in our lives refine us and shape us into who God wants us to be and often defines our purpose. The mess may still be there, but my heart is not the same. None of us want to go through these times, and we usually spend a lot of time complaining about the mess and asking God Why? and Please take it away! The only way to get to the other side is to ride it out, and while you are riding it out, you may as well stop asking God to take it away and ask Him to show you what He wants you to learn from this time. Allow Him to mold you and complete His work in you.
How great a gift to be in the place of newness. How great to have a fresh, clean, unstained life to live. That is what Jesus does for us. New life. He is the only one who can provide that newness. There is nothing we can do in our own power to create it or fix the mess.
Thank goodness we have a heavenly Father that comes to us in the messy places and gives us new life in Him. He meets us in the middle of the blinding fog and guides us out, one step at a time. He takes away the dirt and filth and muddy mire we dig ourselves into and gives us a brand new, clean, pure as the driven snow life. He takes our broken lives and hearts and makes beautiful new creations that He uses. He doesn’t just put us back together and stand us in the corner or hang us on the wall. He uses our beautiful brokenness to bring glory and honor to Himself and to provide a glimmer of hope for others.
One of the greatest gifts God gives us is our friends who walk with us through the messes. In the middle of a mess, all perspective is lost. If you are there – in a messy, broken place, please know that there are others. You are not alone in the mess. Reach out to someone to get a new perspective and you will be shocked at the ones who have already been in your messy place. Trust God in the mess. Whatever He is doing in your life, though it looks and feels very messy, He will use for your growth and for His glory. Your mess is His treasure.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18
By Lara Cook
