Under construction

Doesn't it seem that everywhere these days there is construction happening? The main street I drive on for work and church has been having construction the past several months. Our gym is doing some major construction to expand and update for the foreseeable future. Even our daughter's sitter was having some construction completed at her new house before fully moving in.

During times of construction there are unfamiliar detours and unexpected changes. There are also possible delays and potential for frustration as well as annoyances. Sometimes it seems like nothing is being done or has been done in weeks - that pile of rubble is still sitting on the side of the road and there does not seem to be any sign of people working. They said it would be only 2 weeks and it turned into 2 months. The unexpected detour makes your drive significantly longer and causes you to be late.

Once the construction is completed, it is always exciting and a relief. The finished product is usually wonderful and so much better than it was before. We almost have this moment of amnesia forgetting the construction it took to get there and continue on with our lives.

I often think that God has us all under construction for something in our lives to help us become a better version of ourselves. Perhaps we are under construction on improving our habits (i.e. eating a more balanced diet, exercise, etc.) or dealing with a challenge in our family, in our friendships, or at work. There are some times that it feels like God isn't working in our lives, but trust me...in those small ways you cannot even see He is doing so much. Or perhaps God is calling us to go on a detour so we have the opportunity to see and experience something we would not have otherwise. God has all the blue prints and plans knowing full well what the end product for each of us will be. The person that God has in mind for who we can be is even better than we can imagine.

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Lord God,

Help us during our times of construction to be patient with ourselves and others. When we are fearful of the detours you are taking us on because of the unfamiliarity, give us comfort and peace. Help us to remember that there is an ending and that one day we will look back and see how far we have come. Thank you Lord for constantly working in our lives.

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,
Elizabeth