by Charlie Lyons
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19
I never cease to be amazed at how a comment from a three year old brings clarity and perspective to just about any situation. If you’re a parent, I’m sure you’ve experienced this many times.
Have you ever been completely bowled over by your toddler’s (seemingly unintended) depth and perception?
Just a few days ago I was down the hall from my son’s bedroom where he was kneeling next to his bed, playing happily with his Thomas the Tank Engine Mega Blocks toys. As per his usual practice, he was excitedly commentating an interesting story-line as playtime unfolded in front of him.
Then something else happened that also accompanies his playtime with just about anything… there was, as he calls it, a big “crash-bang-boom.” With a surprisingly precise swipe of his hand, several pieces of Mega Blocks quickly made their way across his bed, onto the floor, and around the room.
What he said next literally stopped me in my tracks: “Whoa! What a beautiful mess!”
As he went about gathering up the pieces and putting it all back together again, with nothing short of unbridled excitement, I was struck by the vivid illustration this draws of our Heavenly Father, and His daily interactions with those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ.
Every morning as a new story-line unfolds for you, He excitedly looks on with gleeful anticipation…
“Which direction will he go today?”
“What decisions will she make?”
“Which choices or opportunities will they make the most of?”
Then, you experience the inevitable and daily personal crashes, bangs, and booms, and the pieces of your life end up strewn messily all over the place.
As our Heavenly Father lovingly, and graciously, surveys your situation, He says, “What a beautiful mess,” and then goes about putting your life back together again with His own very special edition of unbridled excitement, steadfast love, and everlasting compassion.
If you’re anything like me, there are pieces of your life all over the place on a regular basis. Scripture tells us that “The desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes, and pride of life,” working in conjunction with “the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience,” conspire daily for control of each of our lives. (1 John 2:16; Ephesians 2:2) Some days it feels like a relentless wrestling match, doesn’t it? Without regular ‘wrest-stops’, this constant struggle will simply wear you out.
Let the words of Jesus bring you renewed perspective:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
You can absolutely rest assured that even on your ‘messiest’ of days, because of His extravagant grace which He lavishes on you, God sees you as nothing less than a ‘beautiful mess’, and He desires to help you put your life back together.
What do you need to do to allow God to start putting things in your life back together?
Charlie is Senior Pastor at Riverside Baptist Church, and if you would like to comment on this article, you can do so here on this site, or email him at ch*****@ri**************.ca“>ch*****@ri**************.ca. May I encourage you also to look in on his website at… www.charlielyons.ca