Have you noticed how sometimes God speaks to us through the ordinary things in life and even the mundane? This morning I was standing at my kitchen sink minding my own business when God started talking to me about one of our saucepans. Random, or what!
Last night some food had been cooked in the pan that had burned dry. This saucepan was a bit of a work horse in our house, so this was not the first time this had happened. However, as I tried to scrape the burnt food away, it felt like this time things had gone too far, and we might need to throw it away and buy a new one.
As is customary, I put the pan in to soak overnight, and on coming down this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the soaking had worked and the pan was salvageable. In fact, after cleaning it up, it was good as new.
Here comes the random again. I wonder whether you ever feel like that pan?
For some, life is good; you feel like a brand-new pan, and you have lots to give. Enjoy the season and reach out to others who are finding things more difficult.
There are those of you who have walked with God faithfully over the years. Your pan has been well used, but there is still more wear in it. Your faithfulness is seen by God particularly in the things that are not seen by others.
And there are those of you who are finding things tough at the moment. Life can be hard. Things happen that can leave unwelcome deposits in our lives, like burnt-on food in a pan. Sometimes it can seem like there is no wear left in you.
You are the people I particularly want to speak to. Like my pan, there is still a lot for you to give. You just need a little soaking. As you immerse yourself in God, he can cleanse those unwelcome deposits so that they can be washed away. It may take a while, but take heart.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43 v 19
And
Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30 v 5
If you feel like life is not working out the way you want it to, know that God has a plan for you. He can be trusted. His ways are not our ways, but He is 100% faithful and wants the best for you.
Give yourself some time to soak in God. He has got you. He wants to restore you to a shiny new pan that can be seen front and centre. We are all on this journey together, even if we are at different phases in our lives. Let’s journey through the ups and downs of life together.
