A Beautiful Mess

On the very day Punxsutawny Phil predicted an early spring, our city experienced the lowest recorded temperatures in history. The temps dipped as low as two degrees with wind chills in the minus zeros.

This weather anomaly caused a chain reaction with the services of the utility companies. In order to keep the power supply, the electric company enacted rolling blackouts. The rolling blackouts caused thermostats in some people's homes to go out and they lost gas pressure. The demands for gas to supply warmth were so great that some residents lost gas service leaving them in the cold. The water company could not run the pumps without power and the water froze in large pipes.

Then a few days later the weather warmed up causing water pipes to bust all across the city. I experienced the same problem in my master bedroom.

What a mess! Water gushed through the ceiling fan like a waterfall. Sheetrock flung from the ceiling. The mattress, box springs, furniture, and carpet soaked up the water like a sponge.

When the pipes froze, I searched for the pipes to do all I could to warm them up and thaw them out to prevent the inevitable. But only having moved into this home two months prior, I'm still figuring things out. Well this mystery was solved sooner than I hoped.

As I stated before, we have only lived in this home for two months. With one primary income, we felt blessed to purchase this size of house. And it was built only four years ago in a new development. This house was not what I considered a "fixer-upper" like other homes we've lived in prior to this one.

I settled it in my mind that I was ready to move into this home without any construction projects for a while. Well, the Lord had other plans for us.

Every day I ask the Lord to guide my steps. I confess, I struggled with this scenario. I am grateful for things not being worse. I am thankful the damage is limited to one room. I'm thankful that I'm still able to live in the home in spite of not having my own bed to sleep in. I'm thankful we have insurance. But still, this experience did not line up with my expectations.

I wanted to set up house and be very comfortable. But, no I have a mess. As I type this, I'm listening to hammers pounding below me. I'm thankful we found a contractor to work with so many businesses and homes damaged.

In this mess, I've discovered there is beauty. Due to my human nature, oftentimes I fail to see God's glory when everything is going right for me. I must struggle to see God's goodness. The Lord desires that I see HIM at work in this mess. He alone does more for me than I can see.

Looking back over my life, I do not regret my painful experiences, but am grateful for them as they have brought me closer to the Lord. This mess I'm in now is not any different. I'm seeing God provide for us in ways I could not fathom. Physically, financially, and emotionally God is remodeling my mess turning it into something beautiful.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." ~~Isaiah 61:3