In order for our Builder to repair a crack (or wound), He has to peel back the layers upon layers that we have used to cover up the mess. -The mess that we have hoped that no one else sees. We all have areas of our lives that we would rather not have exposed. We rationalize that if people think well of us, then maybe we can still be an instrument that God can use. We know and God knows the secrets and the losses that we have grieved. We even thank God for how presentable we’ve managed to make ourselves seem in spite of it all.
And then… something happens. We find ourselves traveling a road that we’ve been afraid of traveling for years, perhaps. “Why am I unable to handle this and keep it together?”, we ask. Not only have we been exposed but we can be angry, because it seems like our God is the one who exposed it.
Friend, God repairs from the original fault line. In the process, however, our faith might even seem insecure, at best.
When hurt is exposed… it is not pretty. But my Father doesn’t patch with “good enough” intentions. To extend our faith and make it deeper, He reveals and then conceals back up better than we could have in our own strength. I personally, am in a season where so many hurts have been exposed… dealt with… only to need dealt with again. He’s working on me. If you’ve read this far, He’s probably working on you too. Here is what I know: My faith is not weaker because I’m weak. It is in my weakness that He is made strong. -That’s the stuff that deep Faith is made of.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Though you slay me
Yet I will praise you
Though you take from me
I will bless your name
Though you ruin me
Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who’s all I need
(By Shane & Shane on Job 13)
Pictures: Before we moved into our home, I patched up this area where there was a crack deep in the wall. The crack actually descends all the way down to the first story. It was caused by a severe storm, that blew one of the chimneys off the house long before it was our house. I concealed it without truly fixing it. It looked fine for a while, but not even a year later, the crack came back. These photos were taken today, after I cut through the patching, all the way down to the original crack. I’m repairing it right this time, I hope. And…. I find lessons in the smallest things!
