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What makes messy beautiful? It’s not being messy itself. It’s God loving us through it. That doesn’t make the messy beautiful. It makes God beautiful. And it doesn’t make the messy OK.
In the beginning of my marriage and early years of motherhood, I was intentional about my life and my relationships. I made certain to go out of my way to help my husband. I determined to at least try to be a better mom.
Somewhere down the line, though, I started reading material, be it blogs or books, that told me it was OK to be comfortable in my mess. And somewhere along the way, I believed it.
One popular message I see often is, “God loves you right where you are.” This can be misleading, because yes, God’s love is unconditional, but that doesn’t mean He wants us to remain where we are. It’s kind of like raising children. We love our children even though they are childish and immature right now. But we love them so much, we couldn’t possibly allow them to grow into adults acting like children. People tend to forget to convey the second part of the message.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11
I gradually stopped trying so hard and began to let go of a life that required work–spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Instead, I ended up lazy. Any time any work was required of me, I became upset for being bothered. I remained stuck in my mess because people told me that was OK.
It’s not OK.
Recently, this way of thinking and living came to a head in my life. It hit me just how unhappy I have been remaining in my messy state. For me, it’s not a comfortable place to be. Not because I’m self-righteous. Oh no, far from it. I can be pretty hard on myself.
No, it’s because God has called me to something greater, and instead I was satisfied with complacency–yet, I wasn’t. My wheels spun, but I went nowhere. And it frustrated me to no end! I cried out to God so often, “God. What’s wrong with me?!” And God, in His great patience and mercy, just quietly waited.
He waited for me to bring my mess to Him and lay it down so I could be free to live for Him better, rather than remain in my mess and grumble about it. Because that’s what I did. It wasn’t pretty, folks.
My goal is not perfection; it’s progression. I should not remain satisfied with where I am. We are going to be messy. But we should never be content to remain there.
God compels us to keep moving forward; keep growing, keep running the race of righteousness.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Being satisfied with our mess is no different then giving up. Otherwise we would keep moving and yes, striving. Will we sometimes fall. Yes! Sometimes our lives do get a bit messy. We simply can’t remain satisfied staying there. I’m pretty sure we will be miserable. I know I was, and discerning from what I have read of others, they seem less than content with their state of mess as well. Regardless that they choose to remain there.
There is too much mediocrity out there, because it’s easy to be mediocre. I choose to refuse such a life. God has given me too much to waste it.
The Bible talks about living a life worthy of the calling He has given us (Eph. 4:1), throwing off everything that hinders, and running the race God has set before us (Heb. 12:1).
Are we to recognize our mess? Yes. Absolutely. Recognizing our need for Jesus is where humility comes in.
But don’t be content to stay there. You were meant for so much more.
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thank you for your authenticity. you are so right that we have rationalized our messiness, laziness, and complacency knowing that God loves us anyway. snd He absolutely does! But I know that I am much more effective for the Kingdom when I have order and goals in my life. God bless!
Yes!! Amen!! Thanks so much!
You are so right! For so long, I’ve been sitting around saying I “should” do this. Finally, I made myself a list of goals and started a blog to hold myself accountable to working towards those goals. I’ve made more progress in two weeks than I have in the last year towards doing what I want to do (and made some new friends, too!)
I hear you. I feel like I finally woke up to reality or something. It’s crazy!! I feel like I can breathe again knowing I don’t need to sit in my mess. So refreshing!
Wow, you nailed exactly what I am working through right now. Thank you for sharing!
I love this reminder!!! I agree, so much of the message in modern Christianity is that God loves you for who you are. Which is true, but he hates the son in our life. He wants us to put away our sin (like laziness) and out on a hard working God honoring attitude.
Thank you for this today, I needed it!’
Exactly!! Sitting in the mess doesn’t change it. I think it’s dangerous if we as women don’t push each other to get up, to keep trying, and simply complain. Life is hard. But, we must keep trying, keep working, keep giving. It’s through the strength of our loving God that we have the courage, strength, and energy to do all of it.
Wonderful message, my friend.
Rachel
This is a great point! While I am all about grace and know that we are fallen sinners, sometimes I get frustrated when I read people who just seem to be wallowing in the fact that they are a sinner. Yes, it is true. But let us rejoice in the fact that we have a Savior, and that He is daily sanctifying us, and that we are called to strive and to discipline ourselves as unto godliness! Excellent post, refreshing truth, so well written. Thank you!
Thank you Christin for this beautiful, personal post. I relate with what you wrote. Ive gone through stages where messy has turned to mopey. It’s not pretty. There is room for the messy, yes. The grief. The recouperation. The grace. But God wants us to live a radical, faithfilled, dynamic life–being salt, not losing our saltiness–so others will know. What farmer produces a harvest when he’s sulking in the barn?
“Being satisfied with our mess is no different then giving up.” You know I only just began to agree with this too. This was great. I may just print it out and put it in my bible study binder. A great encouragement. Thanks.
This is so very true! Some day’s wow it gets overwhelming, but God is good and always brings us what we need.. I find too when my girlfriends and I talk, wow sometimes it is the finances that are a mess too, and we need to sow and reap in life.. I recently attended an event, you can see lots of free resources at http://www.danijohnson.com and there was such great info on War on Debt, so many are paying off so much, and becoming better stewards with all God has given us! Be blessed!
So true! I must say that it’s a much less daunting job to live in a neater home now that my six blessings are much older. I think that, while not excusing our messiness when our children are young, we might have to think about how in different seasons of life we have different priorities (and maybe we need to rethink time priorities and what all we’re involved in while our babies are young).
Followed you over from your link in the comments over at allume I think…anyway, this is a fantastic post and I completely agree with it!!! I, too, have seen the same message on blogs all over and I have to click the red “x,” because I know I can’t let that way of thinking get a hold in my head. Everything about Christ’s teaching is the opposite. Nowhere does Christ say it’s okay to give in and stop trying. He calls us to give up everything for Him. I once heard a saying “Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” I don’t think He wants us to get comfortable in our mess at all.