4:45am and I am awake. There is so much uncertainty in our world right now and as I heard someone say yesterday, “they keep moving the target”. My dad prayed that I would know the Lord in even a greater way than he did; that prayer really touched me. But why do I feel so desperate right now? I have this heaviness in my soul. It feels like I alone am carrying this load; others are not troubled whatsoever. How is the Lord using this situation to mold me and make me more like himself?

We recently started a major project in our house. We are redoing our master bedroom and the loft above it. It is a lot of work. We hired someone to come in and replace the ceiling with new drywall and then texture. He hung new lighting. He also fixed the many flaws in the walls; the drywall was a mess! Now, that the professional stuff has been completed, we can begin putting the primer and paint on the walls. It is a lot of work! It made me think—how much work does it take when God starts a project on me? It isn’t easy and it isn’t quick. It takes a lot of back braking labor, pulling out old nails, filling in the holes in the drywall, sanding to make everything smooth. Then you pick out a color and that’s another big step. You must get on a ladder to paint the parts of the wall that are out of reach. You are tired when you are finished, but it looks so much better!

Is that what God is doing right now to many of us? When I was a child, I was a huge fan of the Christian singing group, 2^nd Chapter of Acts. My friends and I listened to their album over and over. Annie Herring, talked about how sometimes the Lord puts on layers and sometimes he takes off layers. I still remember that message, even over 40 years later.

It’s painful to have God sanding on your life to remove the old paint and the worn rough edges. I am really struggling right now. But I am trusting that after he has finished, it will be such an improvement!

As I search the Word this morning, seeking His wisdom and comfort to start my day, I leave you with Paul’s truth to the Colossians. May we feel the peace of Christ in our hearts during this time of upheaval. We are one body, called by Christ. Let us be thankful. Let us worship him with gratitude in our hearts and may our deeds proclaim his power, his grace and his provision. Amen.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. –Colossians 3:15-17