As a child, I would play in my sandbox for hours on end. I would have all my dolls lined up and make each one a “mud” pie. Then we would have a “mud meal.” After six hours of my fun, I was dirt from head to toe. Mother would call me in for dinner, then as I entered the door, she would say, “Deborah Jan (always first and middle name), clean up your mess!” As I’ve expressed in previous posts, I was a slow learner.
As I look back over many years, I see how many messes I got myself into. Poor choices, willful disobedience, pride, anger, blaming others … you name it, I’ve ended up in messes and deep trouble. Thankfully, God saw past my imperfections and created a new person.
I’m reminded of my messes from the Mental Health Mondays we’ve been holding at church recently. We gather together to see what the Bible says about our minds and our mental health (or lack thereof). The Bible has a lot to say!
I’m certainly a mess … a broken and cracked jar of clay. Thank God He’s in control because in His hands, I’m being molded into the brilliance of Jesus Christ. God loves to get into our messes and turn things around. I used to think I had to clean it all up before ever laying my mess at His feet, but God is much better at cleaning than I am. Throughout eternity, God has used ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
God is not looking for ability; he’s looking for availability. God does not call the qualified; he qualifies the called. Thankfully, God sees potential in you. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you look in a mirror and see flaws. You see shortcomings. Maybe you’re listening more from someone on this earth than what God sees in you — a mighty man or woman for Him.
Jesus can take whatever wrong you’ve done and forgive you. Hopefully, you’ll use it as a lesson in your life and decide not to make the same mistake again. That is failing forward, friend; that is turning your mess into a message. Your story is something to offer others.
Know this — whatever your mess is, not only does God got your mess, God’s got you. He can take care of the real messes, not just piddly mud puddles.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.” Romans 5:3-4
“Being confident of this, that He [God himself] who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about Mental Health Mondays, email me at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com!
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries. Learn more about the ministry by liking our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CJEMinistries) and downloading our FREE mobile app (get.theapp.co) from App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, allow notifications to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Cary John Efurd Ministries. Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com. Feel free to comment at debbyefurd.com
