Mess Serves a Powerful Purpose

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
July 24, 2024
John 1:1-5

Twas a foggy morning as I arose to pray and sit with my husband. As we chatted and read our devotional I felt unsettled, unsure about what my next move should be when I feel as if I have many tasks at hand. But what is most important at this particular moment? I guess you could say I have gotten out of my “groove”.

I decided I should sit quietly, eyes closed and simply ask the Lord to speak and the Holy Spirit to help me to listen and discern. Then it came to me; reread your devotional from earlier this week, focus on the word “messy”.

I found myself reciting one of my favorite memory verses from John 1:1-5 and landed on the introduction of Matthew Kelly’s book, Life is Messy; “Life is messy. This is the human dilemma. You’re not doing it wrong. Life isn’t a color-within-the lines exercise. It’s a wild and outrageous invitation full of uncertain outcomes. Sometime it is beautifully rational, at other times it lacks all logic…It’s what we do with the mess that determines everything. You can ignore it, avoid it, deny it, blame others, shame yourself, and exhaust yourself pretending your life isn’t messy…Or you can realize that the mess serves a powerful purpose”.

Our scripture for meditation today tells us that the Word [revealed in Jesus Christ] is always present, from the beginning and forever. He brings life which is the light for everyone and guides us through the darkness of the mess in which we find ourselves. So, do you sometimes find yourself in an emotional fog with little assurance of what direction you should take? I think it is a safe bet that everyone has such moments or even extended periods of time when life just feels messy and it’s overwhelming to try to figure out how to clean it up. Listen to this piece of advice from Matthew Kelly again; “[A] radical acceptance of self, others, and life may be the beginning of wisdom. I’m not sure we can every truly appreciate anyone or anything until we have made peace with the mess.”

My prayer for you as I prepare to post this is for you to find your peace with God, as moment by moment you turn your mess over to the Master and watch the message that produces.

Amen!