It never ends, the laundry, the dishes, the crumbs on the floor. Of course, it will eventually end when there are no children living in my house, but I have a pretty strong inclination that Jared & I can manage to continue the mess!
Some days I feel like the broom never leaves my hand or I never seem to leave the kitchen, not because I’m cooking, because I’m cleaning up.
But there is that brief moment when everything is in its proper place, the dishes are clean, the clothes are folded and put away. I take in a long, satisfying breath, only to hear someone requesting a snack or asking when dinner will be ready. It was nice while it lasted, but it’s short-lived.
The process of sanctification is a lot like my never-ending house cleaning. Sanctification by definition is cleaning up of my heart, purifying me to be set apart for the kingdom. Sanctification is different from salvation which washes away my sin. Sanctification is the process of making me look more like Jesus.
The process of sanctification is a messy one. It is wrought with ups and downs and in-betweens.
A few months ago, I was low. I doubted myself, my identity in Christ, God’s sufficient supply. The following days, I was reminded that God is more than sufficient and I can lean hard on Him.
Who I am in Him does not change with the blowing of the wind like my circumstances do. Just as the weather changes so do my circumstances.
One moment things are easy, the next I feel like I can’t breathe because of the weight of the challenge. But every moment, I need Jesus.
Whether easy or hard, I need HIm. I was designed with a need for Jesus. [Tweet “The more I recognize my need, the more aware I become of Christ’s sufficiency.”]
Comfort doesn’t meet my need, only the peace from an unchanging, loving God. Life is disappointing and usually contrary to the Life is Good movement, simply put, Life isn’t always Good. I almost feel guilty verbalizing such words. How could I say that? What about all the blessings? What about the reality that I live in a rich nation with unimaginable freedoms?
I’m not denying any of those truths and for those I am grateful. However, those things don’t safeguard me from life’s challenges or wayward circumstances.
Matthew 7:14 (NIV) “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
The gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to Life. The abundant-life is met with difficulty and trial.
God alone is always good, but life, here, on earth, is hard. It has to be hard or we forget our need for Jesus.
I’m not usually an emotional person. Actually, I’m pretty even-tempered. But there are days when even the most “even” get low and I guess it is okay to have moments of despair, brokenness, desperation. In fact I’m certain that it is, because it is Christ that pulls me out of the pit. I need only to call out to Him, “Help me, Jesus.”
Are you going through a difficult season? Are you having a hard time recognizing what God is up to?
John Piper once said,
“God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
Call out to Jesus, ask God for eyes to see what He’s up to in your life and then trust Him. Don’t lose heart. When you’re overwhelmed by your circumstances & the never-ending battle, believe that God is at work, shaping and changing & doing Kingdom-business.
Question: Where are you in your process of sanctification? Up, down, in-between? Do you have some thoughts about God’s work in you or the process of looking more like Jesus? Leave a comment, let me hear your thoughts.
