Your Mess as a Message

Good morning,

I heard a man talking about his life and he told how he did some bad things and found himself in prison for 10 years. He somehow received a TV in his cell and if he pointed some copper wire out the cell door into the hall he could get one Christian station to tune in. He said, “I realized I was such a fool not to have walked with Christ.” He told how his mother had dragged him to Sunday school and, thankfully, those few things he had let into his heart long ago started to come up. He told how he thought his biggest mess was his worst nightmare, when, in effect, he had 10 uninterrupted years to build a rich, strong wisdom and understanding of who God is.

He learned he is accepted just how he is, loved beyond reason, his sins are forgiven, he has choices, he can receive help, protection, provision, peace, joy, goodness, patience, on and on, until he had realized he could stop being afraid, forgive people, love people, because God is!!

Sometimes we think our horrible circumstance is so bad when, in reality, we get a life-changing message from them. Great teaching below about your “mess.”

“Your Mess as Message”

I like the conversation Bob Benson recounts in his book, See You at the House, about his friend who had a heart attack. For a while it seemed his friend wouldn’t make it. But he recovered. Months later Bob asked him,

“Well, how did you like your heart attack?”

“It scared me to death, almost,” his friend replied.

“Would you do it again?” Bob asked.

“No!” was the quick reply

“Would you recommend it?” Bob continued.

“Definitely not,” he answered.

“Does your life mean more to you now that it did before?” Bob asked.

“Well, yes,” his friend responded.

“You and your wife always had a beautiful marriage, but are you closer now than ever?” Bob continued.

“Yes,” his friend said.

“Do you have a new compassion for people—a deeper understanding and sympathy?” Bob inquired.

“Yes I do,” he responded.

“Do you know the Lord in a richer fellowship than you’d ever realized?” Bob asked.

“Yes,” again was the response.

Then, Bob asked his friend again, “So, how’d you like your heart attack?”

Deuteronomy 11:2 says: Remember what you’ve learned about the Lord through your experience with Him. Do that, my friend, and your mess will become your message!

Love you, Teri