A few years ago my hubby and I visited the local chocolate café and the serviette on the table caught my attention. It said, “Better to have enjoyed and made a mess than never to have enjoyed at all!”
Some people don’t mind mess, so they could happily go with the serviette’s advice whilst other people get very anxious when everything feels and looks all over the place. But I have learned that with every decision, change, and step forward we take, it can be hard at first, messy in the middle, and then beautiful when you have achieved your goal
I was reminded of that this week when I received my neuroscience exam mark which I had been really concerned about all Semester. It was a difficult unit and I came out of my final exam thinking “Gosh I don’t know if I passed that”. However, the good news is I passed and did better than I thought. It was hard at first, messy in the middle, but the success is one I’ve been enjoying for the past few days.
As the chocolate café serviette said, it often is better to have enjoyed the challenge, the beauty of trying and even making a mess, than never to have enjoyed and tried at all.
Why you may ask? Because life is messy, and that is actually okay. God knows that we need to express, stretch ourselves, create, and really enjoy living, and He gives us space to do that. He wants us to love our lives and not live in fear, which only limits the enjoyment and experience of life.
If we allow ourselves to be governed by the need to control, have all our ducks in a row all the time, and stay in our comfort zone at all times we may just end up knowing some serious regrets, and also suffocate the life of those close to us.
Living a full overflowing life like Jesus talks about can’t be experienced if we aren’t prepared or open to pushing through those hard moments, enjoying the process and any mess, and all so we can grow, develop and live our best life.
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I,( Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows}” (John 10:10).
All of us have “mess moments” when things are not great when we feel a bit out of control and life isn’t going to plan.
If you are feeling “messy”, be honest with yourself, with God, and with others who love you.
You are never alone in the messy department, and if you see someone in a mess, don’t just avoid, ignore or run away. Ask God how you can be an encouragement. Sometimes it’s the simple things that make all the difference. And it’s always good to remember that “God is in the business of making our mess into a miracle.”
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. (Romans 8:28)
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands”. (Psalm 138:8)
Prayer: Lord I’m so thankful for your grace towards me. When I find myself in a difficult place and feel things are a mess, please help me remember that you are there for me and to trust you to help. Would you also please bring people alongside me whom I can trust and share and have the same grace and compassion towards others who may be in a mess too. In Jesus’ name Amen.