Ashley Reynolds.net

On my usual jogging route, I pass by an old, broken down house. For the past three years the owners have been renovating it. I must admit that my thoughts have usually been “Why are they remodeling it that way?” Or “That doesn’t look too good.” Through out the process they stripped everything from the house except for the foundation….

It was barren, desolate, useless. It almost seemed pointless and plagued me many times to wonder and think that they were just wasting their time. How could anything become from such an ugly mess.

But in time, something began to happen.

The other day as I was passing by, something was different. Many things were different. New walls were being built again. Brick by brick, I could start to see the bigger picture and the pieces of their vision come to pass. It was slowly being restored, not just to its original state, but way beyond anything it was ever before. And it wasn’t ugly at all. It was…beautiful. But, I’m sure that this was not accomplished without its own frustrations and hardships. It took its owners years of patience, hard work, careful planning, attention, dedication, and perseverance. But most assuredly it made me realize that in the beginning they couldn’t have possibly seen an ugly mess when they looked upon their house…they had to of seen a vision of the potential and beauty of what would someday come.

It compelled me to think about how God works in our own lives much the same way. Have you ever been so completely humbled, crushed, and broken by an event or circumstance that has happened in your life? Or felt useless, heart broken, overwhelmed, and just a mess inside and out? When we look at ourselves in different seasons it’s easy to think “What an ugly mess… How can God possibly be working in me or through me?”

But the truth is, He is.

Sometimes the Lord will strip things from us that might hinder our future growth. Sometimes He will tear away so He can build again anew. But there isn’t one detail that is being missed or passed over. God is intricately weaving and perfecting each detail of our lives without fail. Sometimes God will take us through years of being “under construction.” This process is essential and important to our journey. Although rebuilding is painful, It should not be something we wish to hurry through or skip over, for every step along the way has a need and purpose. We could never stand up strong in our faith without it. But, He promises to complete and finish the good work that has started in us.(“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:6 MSG)

When a life is committed and given over to the Lord, He will carefully move to work on, build up, shape, strip away old, add new, and mold by His very own hands. No matter how many times we feel we have messed up or made mistakes in our life. No matter what sins we have committed. No matter how many times others have trampled on us, taken advantage of, stolen from us, or hurt us. It will never deter God from working in us or cause Him to deem us irreparable. God hears our cries, restores, and makes us new. Nothing is too far gone and nothing is beyond repair or hope with Christ. He will always pour His loving care into us.

Psalm 34:18 promises, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

When we are broken before God, when our very foundation has been shaken to the core, we have the constant comfort that in that God will bring about forgiveness, redemption, restoration, and beauty. As long as we plant on feet in Christ, the foundation will always remain standing. Even its walls can come crumbling down around us, but nothing can remove our footing. While in distress, crying out, it is our constant comfort that he hears us.

In His commentary, Matthew Henry describes, “The righteous are humbled for sin, and in their own eyes lowly. Nothing is more needful to true godliness than a contrite heart, broken off from every self-confidence. In this soil every grace will flourish, and nothing can encourage such a one but the free, rich grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The righteous are taken under the special protection of the Lord, yet they have their share of crosses in this world, and there are those that hate them. Both from the mercy of Heaven, and the malice of hell, the afflictions of the righteous must be many. But whatever troubles befall them, nothing will hurt their souls, for God keeps them from sinning in troubles. No man is desolate, but those who God has forsaken.”

There are those passing by that might make the mistake and think that you are just a lost cause (As I did many times passing by that old house). They will resolve that there is nothing good that possibly could come from the brokenness that they see. Others will count you out of the race because you are knocked down. But, God’s very word is proof that He uses everyday, ordinary people do to extraordinary works. Nothing is a lost cause to Him and He makes no mistakes.

God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. God continues to amaze me daily through this. Forests burn down and are able to grow back. Broken bones heal. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of a tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end and that you will find joy again. We must be patient as we wait. God’s great harvest of joy is coming. So we can rest assured that as the storm clouds come and the rains fall, as the flood waters sweep around us, as long as we plant our feet in the Lord and He is our foundation, no man nor circumstance can shake us. In the aftermath, God will always restore what has been lost…restoring us to our full beauty and potential. God’s purpose and plan will far surpass your imagination.