Trading Mess for a Message

"Mess creates stress."  That's what my mom used to tell me when my apartment had the appearance of being broken into and ransacked.  Coming from my mom, that's the truth.  She and my sister have the gene to have a place for everything and everything in it's place.  Somehow, that part of her DNA was not passed on to me.  It intimidated me to the point of never wanting anyone over for fear of my mess being looked down upon.

However, I look at mess differently now.  While I like to have things neat and tidy, it rarely happens in a house with two boys, a husband, a dog and a fish, and my own "green" personality.  I've learned to appreciate the art of what happens in my mess.  You see, my mess is mostly internal.  Working through years of self-doubt, self-esteem issues and depression.  I've found that internal mess creates just as much stress as the external stuff.  

The thing is, God has used all of it.  He has used every single mess I've ever gotten myself into, or made out of something, and turned into something beautiful, meaningful, and valuable.  Without experiencing depression on a personal level, I would not be able to love hurting people.  Without going through self-doubt, I would not be a big cheerleader for people who follow their dreams.  Self-esteem issues pushed me to become the encourager I am today.  

I'm thankful for this promise from God to us:  Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."  It's because of the mess in our life that God can shine through and make something of each one of us.  There is freedom in admitting we don't have it all together and that sometimes our lives can be a hot mess.  Our mess is meant to be a testimony to someone else of the goodness and faithfulness of God.  Our mess is our message that shouts to the world that God can turn ashes into something beautiful.  He is always at work in us, friend.  Always, even in our biggest mess.