Your “Mess”…

We all know that life can be messy. But, what do you do with your mess?

As I was listening to a podcast about life’s messes this morning getting ready for church, I had this thought…

Your mess IS a message!

Whether you like it or not. The unavoidable ups and downs. The spilt dinner plate. The lost shoe. The misplaced keys. The alarm clock that got turned off. The beautiful and perfectly arranged kink in your daily plan. All of it!

Well, of course I did what any self respecting blogger would do… I googled the topic! And there are a lot of things out on the web about life’s messes. My google search pulls up videos and blog posts entitled “When your mess becomes your message” or “Turn your mess into a message”.

But sister, I have some news for you… your mess IS already a message. The way you walk gracefully in this season of life, or grumble to the end… It’s sending a message to someone.

The way you complain about every flaw in your husband and children, or the way you smile and sing their praises to those around you. Somebody is taking notice.

As i jotted down some notes in my notepad app before church this morning, I smiled thinking, this is going to be a good one.

HAHA Doesn’t God have a sense of humor sometimes. Example… My husband was working today and I was responsible for getting all three children ready and out the door this morning. We were doing so good. We had so much time. Until we didn’t! I wanted to leave the house by 9:30 so that we could be at church by 9:40. Well, we got out the door by 9:40!

So, it would seem as if God was testing me. Ok big girl. You want to write a blog post on this topic, let me give you some first hand experience this morning.

On the way to church I realized, I have two choices. When I get to church I can jump out of the car, rush the kids to their class, throw the baby through the nursery window, and mumble some complaints as I run up to my class. And oh, be sure to tell everybody that crosses my path about how rushed we were and how tough it is to get three children to church on time. And motherhood is so hard. Blah, blah, blah! All the things!

OR I could take some deep breaths on the short car ride to church… Say a quick, raw, and pleading prayer… Turn up the “Morrison Sister” CD my children insist on listening to on a daily basis… and look at the blessings of the morning. I was able to read my Bible this morning. I listened to 1.5 podcasts while I was getting ready. All three children were healthy and able to go to church. I got to make a huge cup of coffee to take with me. The children were all in good moods. And somehow on that short 7 minute car ride, my anxiety left! And by the time I pulled into my parking spot at church, I had a new attitude.

That wasn’t the only test I experienced today… God got me again after church.

But, I have said all of that to say, be careful! Your mess is already a message. Your attitude. Your walk. Your talk. It’s all under your control. You can choose to dwell on the bad and try to showcase your complaints for the world to hear. Or you can put your big girl clothes on! And no matter the circumstances, choose to be a willing vessel and have a good testimony for God.

And believe me, I know. It’s not easy!

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8 KJV

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Philippians 2:14-15 KJV

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21 KJV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

The devil would like nothing more than to see you hurt your testimony. Don’t let him win. You have the choice. And sometimes, the choice is hard and your flesh can come on strong, But… Be controlled by the Spirit. Not the flesh. When you see all the classic signs, pray! Pray hard! Put on a smile and keep your head held high. Let your mess be a positive message. The the vessel that God can use for His glory. For the struggling mother watching you. To the lady that had a rough week and just needs to see some positivity in your smile. Maybe even to the young lady that needs to hear how a loving, biblical, wife should speak about her husband. Resist the urge to dump the negativity of your mess into someone else’s lap. Instead, turn your frown upside down (I’m a mom! That’s my excuse for using these corny sayings!) and be the reason someone smiles or laughs. Be the reason they have faith in this whole thing. And let God get the glory!

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31