Renovation is messy!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV: He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Life has seasons when things seem to get worse before they get better. We pray for change, but instead of seeing improvement, we find ourselves surrounded by more questions, more challenges, and uncertainty.
Have you ever looked at something in your life and wondered, God, what are you doing?
I think about renovation. Anyone who has ever been through one knows that the process isn’t pretty. There is dust everywhere, things are torn apart, walls are opened, and sometimes the space looks worse than it did before the work began. You might even question whether the renovation was a good idea!
But here’s what I learned over the years: you cannot judge the finished product by what you see during construction. And I believe that is a lesson many of us need to embrace in our walk with God.
Sometimes God begins working in areas of our lives that we would rather leave untouched. He challenges our attitudes, exposes unhealthy patterns, confronts our mess, and asks us to release things we’ve become comfortable with holding on to. And to be honest, the process isn’t always comfortable.
We want God to bless us, but sometimes He wants to change us first. We want a new season, but we don’t let go of the old one. We pray for open doors while holding on to old mindsets that belong behind us. God isn’t just interested in changing our surroundings; He wants to transform us from within.
Perhaps you find yourself today in that space of renovation, and it looks ugly. Maybe your marriage is under construction. Maybe your faith is being stretched; maybe you’re waiting for someone you love to change. Maybe you’re in a transition season and need direction. Please don’t mistake the mess for God's absence.
Just because you cannot see what God is building doesn’t mean He isn’t working. There are four things I want you to remember about the renovation process.
- Sometimes God must tear down before he can build.
Isaiah 4318 reminds us not to dwell on the former things because God is doing something new.
Some habits, attitudes, relationships, and mindsets cannot accompany us into every new season. We cannot keep holding on to everything from yesterday and expect to experience something different tomorrow. So, ask yourself: What am I holding on to that God is asking me to release?
- God wants to clean what is inside, not just change what’s around us.
Psalm 51:10 says Create in me a pure heart …
Sometimes we change location, our circumstances, or our surroundings, but we continue to carry the same unresolved issues with us. I’ve learned over the years that a new environment doesn’t automatically produce a new heart. So, before you ask God to change everything and everyone around you, ask him to work on what’s within you first.
- What worked in our previous season may not work in your next season.
Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Growth requires adjustment. Don’t become so attached to how things used to be that you miss what God is doing now. You cannot walk into a new season if you are unwilling to grow and be transformed.
- Let God handle the finishing touches.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God make everything beautiful in it time.
We are often in a hurry to see the finished product. We want the answers, the breakthrough, the restoration, and the promise. But God understands the process better than we do. You cannot rush what God is developing in you! Philippians 1:6 reminds us that he who began a good work in us will carry it out. Your job is to remain faithful in your season of renovation.
I want to personally challenge you to think about something in your life that feels unfinished right now and ask God what he wants to develop in you during this season. Don’t let frustration make you abandon the process. You can’t see what God is doing behind the scenes; give yourself and others grace while He works.
So, remember renovation is messy, but the mess is not the final product. You are not finished! Let God finish the work