Have You Ever Had An Unexpected Mess Too Difficult To Clean Up?
Josh Howard
Several years ago, a friend of mine shared a heartwarming story that has stuck with me ever since. It's a story about love, grace, and the unconditional support of a father. Picture this: my friend and his wife were enjoying a peaceful evening on their porch, sipping their tea and engrossed in a book. Their young daughter, just three or four years old, was happily playing outside, running back and forth on the porch. They had even left the back door open, allowing her to freely enter and exit the house.
But then, silence fell upon the porch. And any parent knows what that means - trouble. Concerned, my friend got up from his seat and went inside, only to find that his daughter's room was shut, and he could hear her crying inside. With a mix of confusion and worry, he pushed the door open, and what he saw was beyond his wildest imagination.
The Little Girl's Honey Disaster
While my friend and his wife were enjoying their time outside, their little daughter had managed to sneak into the kitchen. With the strength and determination only a three-year-old possesses, she had climbed onto the kitchen counter and grabbed a huge jar of honey. Somehow, she had brought it into her room and proceeded to pour it all over her carpet, turning her room into a sticky, sweet mess.
Normally, anyone would be upset and angry at such a sight. But my friend experienced a moment of divine intervention. The Holy Spirit took over, filling him with grace and understanding. Instead of lashing out, he approached his daughter with love and compassion. She was weeping, begging him not to look at the mess she had made. In her tiny hand, she clutched a single tissue, desperately trying to clean it up on her own.
A Father's Unconditional Love
My friend knelt down beside his daughter, wrapped his arm around her, and reassured her that everything would be okay. He told her not to worry about the mess, as it was just carpet, and he would help her clean it up. He picked up his honey-covered little girl and took her to the kitchen, where they gathered cleaning supplies. Together, they tackled the task of restoring order to the room, wiping away the sticky remnants of the honey.
Can you relate to feeling like there's nothing you can do to clean up your own mess? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're desperately trying to fix things, but it feels like a hopeless endeavor? I certainly have. Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes we make mistakes that seem irreparable. In those moments, we often resort to our own feeble attempts to clean up the mess we've created.
The Futility of Self-Cleanup
But let's be honest - our feeble attempts at self-cleanup are like that little girl with her single tissue paper. They amount to nothing. Just as honey cannot be removed with a tissue, our mistakes and wrongdoings cannot be rectified through our own efforts alone. We need something more.
Thankfully, we serve a Father who responds to our messes with love and compassion, just like my friend did for his daughter. Our Heavenly Father looks at us, covered in the sticky residue of our mistakes and sins, and kneels down beside us. He assures us that it's okay, that He's here to help us clean it up.
That's why He sent His Son, Jesus, to this earth. Jesus came to clean up our mess, to forgive us, and to give us new life. He doesn't look at our mess with anger or disappointment; He looks at it with love and the desire to restore us. No matter how big our mess may seem, no matter how overwhelming the consequences of our actions, our Heavenly Father is ready and willing to extend His hand to help us clean it up.
Perhaps you can relate to that little girl, hiding your face, thinking you're not good enough for God. You may be running away from Him, afraid to confront the mess you've made. But I want you to know that God is not angry or upset with you. He's not interested in condemning you; He's interested in loving you and helping you clean up your mess.
Wherever you are, right now, God is ready to reach out His hand, to kneel down beside you, and put His arm around you. He wants you to know that He loves you and that He will take care of you. He's not afraid of your mess; He's ready to clean it up. That's why He sent Jesus - to clean up everything we've ever done wrong, to forgive us, and to offer us a new life.
A Prayer for Cleansing
If you find yourself in the midst of a mess, I invite you to pray with me. Let's ask God to come and help us clean up whatever situation we're facing. Let's acknowledge our need for His love, grace, and forgiveness.
Dear God,
Today, I come before you with a heart burdened by my mistakes and messes. I recognize that I cannot clean up this mess on my own. I need your help, your love, and your forgiveness. Just as the father in the story extended grace to his daughter, I ask that you would extend your grace to me.
Lord, I thank you for sending Jesus to clean up my mess, to forgive me, and to offer me a new life. I surrender my burdens to you. Please come and help me clean up this situation. Guide me, strengthen me, and fill me with your peace.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Father. I trust in your ability to clean up my mess and set me free. Amen.
Friend, no matter what you've done, no matter how messy your life may seem, know that our Heavenly Father is ready to clean it all up. Look to Him, accept His love and forgiveness, and allow Him to set you free. There is no mess too big for our God.
