Do you rummage through your kitchen drawer for the right utensil, only to discover it’s fallen in the garbage disposal? Have you entered the wrong location into your GPS and traveled miles in the wrong direction? Maybe you told yourself, “This is not going to be my day.” When I think of a messy life, I remember days when my faith was clouded with doubt. I remember the heaviness of unanswered prayers.

A structured life is not the normal routine. Difficult relationships, financial stresses, health concerns, and many challenges occur regularly. Interruptions invade our best plans. What do you do when life’s unexpected twists and turns disrupt your days, weeks, and months?

Purposeful Interventions

As we grow in faith, opposition often arises. Yet Jesus steps into the middle of our situations with a purpose. Not random. In fact, He remains involved in our lives despite our frustrations.

God literally rescued me from falling off a downward path. I remember hiking with my Girl Scout troop when I was ten years old. We formed a single-file line and focused on the person’s footpaths directly in front of us. As we walked up the mountain, I took my eyes off the girl’s steps in front of me. My gaze wandered to the slope to the far right. All of a sudden, my right foot slipped, and I had nothing to steady myself. My body tilted to the right, and I began to slide downward. Suddenly, I felt a presence push me to stabilize my footing. And without a second thought, I fell back in step with the girls in my troop. This event happened over 50 years ago. I’ve written about this experience in my journal. It reminds me of God’s intervention that kept me from falling.

God’s interventions bring opportunities to experience His rescues

• In the middle of our storms, God often lets us reach a point of exhaustion. We find ourselves stuck in the middle. But God extends His hand to rescue us. He steps in at the perfect time. The disciples found themselves in a boat in the middle of the sea, exhausted and without human resources (Mark 6:47-51).

• The Israelites felt trapped at the Red Sea. With walls of water on each side, God miraculously parted the sea. The walls of water represented His protective barrier. They walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, escaping their enemies. When we walk in the middle of a trial, God is on our right and our left. (Exodus 14:22).

Nothing Wasted

To be honest, the messiness of life overwhelms me. Life is a roller coaster of tumultuous experiences. But God is not the author of chaos or confusion. Yes, we often create our own chaos, but God orders our steps when we let him. Much of the time, we don’t see Him until we are in the middle of messy situations.

I’ve had difficult years, and hoped for less heartache. I’ve also had brighter days with losses restored. Because the Lord works in our messes, He uses our mistakes to show us His faithfulness. He overrides all our mistakes and overpowers us with His love. The good news is that God undoubtedly continues to work and restore His good plans for us. He wastes nothing.

Messy Pages

I’ve heard friends say, “I don’t know what to write in a journal.” I tell them, “Write anything. Don’t think too hard about it because life happens.” A journal does not need a set structure. There is much to write about. That’s the beauty of journaling. It’s messy. If you are afraid someone will read your words, use a different name in your journal. Tell your story using an anonymous person. Write using initials, not with the full name. This can detract anyone from knowing the person you are writing about, which is really you. Only you know.

In the messiness of life, my journal page becomes a safe space. I usually journal to unravel questions that have no answers because I can’t predict the outcome of my day.

God meets us in the middle of our mess, not after it’s cleaned up. Journals are not polished works. Their messiness is often a sign of honest healing. So write about your chaos, and let the Lord work it out.