1 Aug - Why Dealing With Things Early Protects Your Heart (Before It Gets Heavy).
- Dayle Kinney
- 42 minutes ago
- 3 min read
This week I decided to make my husband breakfast in bed - instant porridge for him (even though I’m more of a “real oats on the stovetop” kind of girl :)
I popped it in the microwave, but then got distracted getting his coffee ready… until the microwave beeped and opening the door I soon realised I’d left it in too long. It had bubbled up, overflowed the bowl, and oozed out onto the microwave plate. I saw it, but I was in a rush to get his breakfast to him before it went cold. So I grabbed out the bowl of porridge and left the mess.
Just for a moment.
But then the day kept moving. One day passed. Then another. And by the time I remembered and opened that microwave door again, the porridge wasn’t just a small mess anymore. It was concrete. Caked on. Dried. Crusty. I had to soak it, scrape it, and literally use a knife to chip it off.
And while I was scrubbing that plate, I felt the nudge.
How many times do we do this with life?
A conversation we meant to have. An apology we should’ve said. A feeling we knew was best brought before God to work through, or a bitterness we let simmer instead of letting it go.
The longer we leave something unattended, the harder it becomes to deal with later. What starts as a simple “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” turns into layers of hurt, pride, confusion, or even distance.
But God didn’t design us to live with crusty, caked-on porridge in our souls.
The Bible actually says:
“Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” -Ephesians 4:26–27 (NIV)
Another verse says:
“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there… First go and be reconciled to them.”- Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV)
God’s not harsh or mean. He’s loving and wise. He knows what happens when we put things off too long. Unforgiveness gets heavier. Anxiety builds. Distance grows in our relationship with Him and others. And things that could’ve been a quick wipe-down can end up taking full-on emotional surgery to sort out.
So maybe today’s reminder is simple: Don’t wait. Don’t let things cake on and build up. Keep your heart soft. Keep short accounts. Turn continually back to Jesus and stay open to what He’s showing you.
ACTION STEPS:
Ask God: Is there something I’ve left too long?
Send that text. Say “I’m sorry.” Forgive them, even if they don’t deserve it.
Write down one thing that’s been sitting heavy in your heart. Bring it to Jesus in prayer.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Do it now, before it hardens.
THINK & SAY:"I live light - no grudges, no walls, just grace and open to what Jesus is saying and doing.”
PRAYER: Lord I don’t want to carry mess I was never meant to hold onto. Please show me anything I’ve been avoiding or pushing aside and help me respond quickly; to forgive, apologise, reach out, or to bring it to You. I don’t want caked-on residue of any mess in my life, so I can stay soft, clean, and free. In Jesus' name Amen.