When You Want God’s New Thing

My kitchen table. . . you don’t even understand what it looks like. . . The legs broke during one of our moves; now, they’re superglued. The kids did “paint projects”; now, splotches of many colors mark the wood. Sisters in Christ came over for a prayer gathering; now, a huge black mark is on the table. A fire burned through a candle.

Even now, as I type on this table, crumbs are placed all around me.

I’m like this table.

Sometimes, I feel like: I’ve been through it. Marks of old still live in me.  I remember them. I still see the scars in me and on my knees. I see things I am not proud of. I’ve wrongly accused people I love. I’ve wrecked a car a couple — or, maybe a handful of times. I’ve gotten prideful and had the Lord bring me back to the reality that He is 100% in charge. I’ve gotten fearful and worried-filled – like when my basement got flooded, or when I got that lump in my chest, or when I thought I would never be good enough.

I can still see marks. Things that I don’t want people to see. Even today, I still mark things up — I get upset at my kids or anxious because I’ve asked them 3 times to put their shoes on and they’re still munching down on breakfast, with laughs.

It’s not only the table, friends — there’s a chair-issue too. They shed off these weird-white pleather-like pieces everywhere. They’re practically unsweepable. But, the funny thing is — God hasn’t given me leeway to get rid of these things. The table and chairs stay with me. Front and center. The stark oddballs of the room, sitting on top of a rug that’s far too small for the space.

They’re like me.

I stand-out in weird ways at times. I have faults. I am not perfect. I make mistakes. Marks of yesterday, and even today, I can still see.

They’re front and center if I l let them be. The awkwardness of them could overwhelm me if I let them.

Or . . .

I can say, “. . . But Jesus. . .”

But Jesus. .  .sees it all so differently.
But, Jesus sees my “weird” and doesn’t want to throw me out.
But Jesus, like that burn mark, has burnt a hole of unparalleled, unquenchable and unbelievable love right in me.
But Jesus, makes all things beautiful in due time.
But Jesus, is okay with the process of life working in and through me.
But Jesus, has covered every sin and makes me white as snow.
But Jesus, has a plan for every scar, scratch, and mark; it will all be used for His glory.
But Jesus, looks at what was and declares what is new – I am a new creation, in Christ Jesus!!!

The disarray of old is fashioned into the glory of new. We cannot despise the process of life, of growth.

For all these good works belong to Him. We are His possession. His daughters. His treasure. And, He now loves what He sees. There’s a good plan for all of it.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)

Today, in the center of “lack”, I give thanks for His abundance. What appears to be not enough, in light of Jesus, is more than enough. I am blessed!

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