Quiet Corners of Transformation

This morning I poured my coffee into one of my favorite mugs. It’s simply designed, with only 3 words inscribed on the front of it:

SEE THE GOOD.

I looked at it and thought, God sees good in me, but only through Jesus, and my husband chooses to see the good in me… but I can’t truly say I always see the good. Especially in myself.

In myself, I see a girl who loves God but fails in many ways.
I see a girl who battles daily with fear.
I see a girl who wants to be friendlier but battles insecurity.
I see someone who loves Jesus so incompletely and so inadequately.

Though there is so much that doesn’t measure up, I am thankful. God, I am thankful that each day is new and that I don’t have to live in my failings, but in Your wondrous mercy that settles over my heart each day like the dew of the morning. Each morning I rise in the stillness and quietness, and soak in Your word. Listen to Your tender whispers, fresh reminders of Your grace that is at work each and every day.

It doesn’t always feel like much has changed. There are days that patience wears thin and unforgiveness creeps up.

But I walk with You.

Every day, Your spirit guides me through the ups and downs. You sweetly and kindly peel away the layers of my soul that cover up the Christ-like image you called me to bear. There are seasons for everything. There are seasons that are great and big and obvious - then there are quiet seasons like this. The seasons where my heart is polished like a diamond and my passionate fire for you is kindled and stoked to a bright and roaring flame. These moments come through quiet corners. Empty rooms. 5 AM alarm clocks after late nights. Scribblings in my journal after sitting in my car and listening to Your voice because I’m hungry and desperate for any drop You have to offer my thirsty heart.

You say to me, “You can’t grow tall if you don’t grow deep.” Big trees have elaborate, weighty, and strong root systems. For every inch taller that tree grows, how much must stretch out underneath the surface? Your work in us is more important than we give credit for. Our impatient pushing is so futile. We must trust in the simple, daily tending to our souls.

. . .

You have to be willing to do the intimate, quiet, unnoticed heart work with God. You have to be willing and able to see it all - everything God draws attention to and says, “this must be removed.” A refining process draws up impurities. You will see all the muck of your soul… and then God will sweetly look at you and see the beauty and goodness.

His love overflows. His love meets you, kisses you, walks with you, gets low with you as you kneel down and begin scrubbing those places, washing them with Him.

Isn’t it completely, overwhelmingly, wonderful that our God who is so pure, so holy, and so perfect, could become so covered in our sin and shame, all so he can help us clean up the messes in our souls and make us more like Him?