BACKGROUND:
It was a Friday night. Just ONE day away from the event the Lord has placed in my heart to do once a year. And every year, it's a battle like none other! Everyday that week, I cried out to the Lord to remind me WHY this warfare was worth it! Why do I STILL follow Him. Why do I still say yes?! I was so near to giving up EVERYTHING! That particular Friday night, the Lord led me to attend the worship and healing night at my church. I was sitting in my chair, and BOOM! The Lord hits my spirit HARD! I knew He was wanting to say something, so I pressed in. He gave me a STRONG vision.
THE VISION:
In this vision, He showed me
an artist's art supplies and work space. I saw messy paint brushes, messy watercolor sets with dirty yellows, and blue paints in the red paints not yet making purple. As the Lord began speaking, I saw to the right the most beautiful VIBRANT picture ever! You wouldn't believe those same colors came from the same art palate I just saw. I asked God, "What does this mean?" He responded, "Though the process is messy, the picture is beautiful."
THE JOURNEY:
Life can get really messy sometimes. We often find ourselves in messy, crazy, circumstances. Maybe, we just feel messy in life in general. I don't know about you, but sometimes, in those really crazy moments, I often find myself asking God, "What are You doing God? What am I not seeing correctly. Help!"
It can get really messy when God has spoken something to you, and you had crazy enough faith to believe Him! Just because He shows us the outcome, doesn't necessarily mean He will reveal what we have to endure. He doesnt always show every step of the journey before it's time.
Think about Moses for a second. The Lord called him to set His people free. God never said, "oh, just so you know, you guys will encounter the Red Sea, and may find yourselves hungry for a bit, but just trust Me. I got it!" He didn't say any of that. Nope, He just called him and said this is what I would like to do through you! Sure, Moses probably had some questions of His own, like what is the Lord's name, and such. And the Lord answered Him, "I Am that I Am." He may even asked about having a speech problem, and the Lord mentioned how He had that covered too. But He NEVER mentioned the trials that he and the others would have to endure by saying YES to Him!
PERFECT PICTURE:
The perfect example of this word spoken to me from the Lord would be THE CROSS. Think about it. The process was SO messy! First, He was so stressed to the point that He was sweating BLOOD drops as He was praying to the Father about the whole ordeal He was about to go through. Now that's intense! (Granted, He ALREADY knew what was ahead of Him before He stepped on this earth. He was God in he Flesh! -John 1:14. But He is STILL the perfect example of a messy process.)
Then, His best friend betrayed Him with a KISS and trading Him in for a small amount of money. If that wasn't enough, they brought Him to Pontus Pilate, because they wanted the worst possible torment or payment for Him to endure- crucifixion! They wanted Him dead! They even traded Jesus for Barabbas. They had Him beaten, whipped, when they were done, the Bible says He was UNRECOGNIZABLE! On top of the beating, they still wanted His death!
IT GETS WORST:
On top of the beating He had endured, Jesus had to carry His own cross to the extent He couldn't anymore. So the soldiers had a man in the crowd to come and help Jesus carry His cross the rest of the way. It gets worst! They nailed HUGE nails in His hands, wrists, and feet! As they lifted Him on the cross, gravity was pulling Him down, but aside from the Love He carried, the nails were holding Him to that cross. Not only did He have to endure nails, but in the form of mockery, they created a crown of THORNS that pierced His skull! They even put a purple robe over Him, and placed a sign above His head that Read "This is Jesus King of the Jews" as a form of mockery. Jesus was INNOCENT! He did no wrong! Boy was this messy! Nine hours of excruciating pain!
This was SO messy! Getting messier by the moment! But, Jesus KNEW His purpose! Still, it had to hurt to see those you love turn you down like that! I'm sure it wasn't just Jesus that was affected by all that was going on, but those who loved Him as well. His family, friends, and followers! This mess included them as well. They loved and BELIEVED Him! People scorned, and mocked them as well for being His followers. Could you imagine seeing yourself there to be an eye and ear witness of this event?!
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
In His last hour, Jesus began praying to the Father. "Abba, Abba, why have You forsaken Me?.....Forgive them, for they know not what they Do." It was messy, oh but something beautiful was taking place and being created right before their eyes! He ends with "It is FINISHED." Storms happened, the veil was torn, the earth shook, the rock split, the graves were opened, and the saints who died before Him were brought back to LIFE! to make sure He was dead, they pierced His side and water AND blood separated, and the two roman soliders who were to keep guard that day became BELIEVERS! (Matt.27:51-54) Our debt for sin in our life was paid in full!
BEAUTIFUL EXCHANGE:
But that's not all! Three days later, He LIVES again! And guess what? So cane WE! This was the "beautiful exchange" The Lord created for us out of that messy process that HAD to take place! This beautiful exchange was full of vibrant colors and all! He came to give us abundance of joy, love, peace, grace, mercy-FREEDOM in Himself! He came to reconcile us back to the Father! The veil was torn, heaven was shaken, FOR US! To come to Him just as we are! For us to HEAR Him for ourselves! For us, to Love Him and experience Him! To KNOW Him! He came so that we may have life in abundance! What a BEAUTIFUL picture! A beautiful picture of His undying love for the world!
(you can find the story of the crucifixon in the gospels Matthew 26:1-28:20, Mark 14:1-16:20, Luke 22:1-24:53, and John 18:1-20:25)
WHERE ARE YOU:
Where do you find yourself right now? Maybe it's a circumstance, you desire to be freed from. Maybe God called you to a purpose or ministry, and you had crazy faith to believe Him, but you didnt think it would look like this or even the process. Maybe, you just desire a closer relationship with the Father. You want to love Him more, grow in intimacy, but you didnt think it would be so messy like this.
MESS IS NEEDED:
Sometimes, the mess is needed!! Mixxing colors creates a new color you didn't have before or maybe you didn't know even existed!
THINK BACK:
I want you to think back on the original vision I received of the artist's tools for a minute. It is a good sign when an artist's tools are messy. It is being used to make something beautiful. Compared to mine that are still semi-cleaned and barely used lol. Think of God as the artist (which He is) and your life or the seasons in your life as the process. An artist knows how to use his tools. However, most artist will tell you to achieve the best results you desire, you have to get the quality materials to get the results you want. You can't get the cheap counterfeits and expect the same results. Jesus' payment on the cross and resurrection was the highest price there is!. We cant go through life expecting to have our way or act like it was for nothing and still expect the same results only He can bring! We MUST follow, love, and trust Him with our all no matter how messy or crazy we find ourselves in sometimes. Remember, this is all a process to take us somewhere beautiful in Him that only He can take us. Trust the process. Naw scratch that, trust the Lord with the process! Your picture is almost completed! And when it is, it will be beautiful!
EARLIER:
Earlier I mentioned how I asked God to remind me why this warfare that I and others go through while preparing for that event He led us to do every year. That Saturday, He did! He proved Himself to be God, yet again. And He reminded why enduring the warfare was totally worth it. Because, it brought someone to Him. How deeply we forget sometimes, but I thank God for always reminding us!
LOOK TO HIM:
That preparation process for that night was so messy full of spiritual warfare and attacks, but the outcome was so beautiful. "Though the process is messy, but the picture is beautiful." So whatever "mess" you find yourself in today, look to God, trust Him, and Thank Him for the mess, because the picture that is being created is beautiful!
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!:
Tell me what is the mess you're facing, or even what are some ways that help keep your eyes on Jesus?! What are some words of encouragement you would like to share that may bless someone? Please share by commenting your thoughts below!
God Bless ya! Love always!
-Jenny
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Theres a really great quote from Steve Jobs I remember when Im feeling defeated by situations in life. "I couldnt connect the dots going forward but looking back I could see how they lined up" it's a really great speech!
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