Embracing the Messiness of Life
My husband and I have been involved in two significant home renovations in our 40 plus years of marriage. If you’ve ever had this experience, you know it’s a massive, messy undertaking. Is it worth it? Despite the cost overruns, supply delivery delays, torn up flooring, filthy sinks and counters, and thick dust in truly every inch of our home, my husband and I would both say it was worth it. Yet, did it require us to be patient and personally inconvenienced during a season of messiness? You'd better believe it!
Messiness is Part of the Process
I shared this with you as I recently read a verse in the book of Proverbs that reminded me of my renovation experience, and simultaneously connected me to a truth regarding messiness…
“Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest” (Proverbs 14:4 NLT).
Perhaps you’re wondering what this verse has to do with home renovation, you, me, or anyone for that matter. Let me explain. You see, in the same way a stable remains clean without oxen, so too my house would have remained clean without the renovation. Yet, in order for the farmer to experience a large harvest and for me a renovated home, we must both embrace messiness. While a clean barn and home are possible, in both scenarios, it requires forfeiting something. For the farmer this would mean forgoing a large harvest, and for me, a completed renovation. The point is we can’t have it both ways. Why? Because messiness is, more times than not, a necessary part of the process, leading to the desired outcome.
The Sobering News
Life in general is messy. Just think about it. Relationships are messy. Families are messy. Marriages are messy. Ministry is messy. Our bodies are messy. The world at large is messy. Politics are certainly messy. And if we’re honest, I think we would all agree that at some level we’re messy too.
In the original world God created, everything was neat and orderly, void of mess. Unfortunately, once sin entered the world (Genesis 3:14-19), that world ceased to exist, and won’t be reinstituted until Jesus returns in the future to make all things right and new (Revelation 21:1-5). But until that day comes, we will continue to live in this imperfect world where life and everything that goes with it is quite frankly, messy. This is the sobering news.
The Good News
The good news, however, is regardless of our current messy world, we can still, and should strive to live the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10), a life marked by love, joy, purpose, peace, power and freedom, and most notably, a life that points others to the reality of Jesus and the beauty of His Gospel.
Yet, even in this, we must be prepared to face and even embrace the messiness of life, knowing God is able to redeem all things, even the “messiest” of things, and cause them to work together for our good and His purpose (Romans 8:28).
So, if perhaps today you’re facing a messy circumstance of your own, relationally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, or in some other way, take heart knowing God is with you in your mess. And further, He will work through your mess, transforming it in His time into something beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Pray
Father God, please help me to face the “messiness” of life courageously, knowing you are with me, for me, and love me. Even when I don’t see how, I trust You are working through my messy challenges, causing them to work together for my good and Your purpose. I praise and thank You in Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Reflect
In what specific way(s) do you connect to purpose, faith, and hope despite the “messiness” of life?
Encourage others with your response to this week’s question HERE or in the Comments section below.