A Time to Build

A quote from my favorite author has been in my thoughts lately:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense.

What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

–C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

You’ve been going through difficult times—so tough they may not even be fully understood in this life. But because Jesus has never stopped loving, healing, blessing, and building you, none of those difficulties define you.

Renew your mind and strengthen your heart by recognizing the ways he has been with you—sustaining, encouraging, blessing, and growing you. Thank him for each one until the problems you’re facing lose their power to intimidate you. The amazing plans God is working on in your life are exactly what you, your family, and this world need to thrive.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen” (Jeremiah 29:11-12, MSG).