Divine Spill

I'm writing this on a special day. It is my birthday!! I'm the big 3-7. I don't FEEL that old, and with bright blue hair and glitter eyebrows, I don't necessarily look it, either. I know it's not a "milestone" birthday, but I came across something that was SO BIG happening today, I had to dive in!

During the winter break from my church's women's study, I offered to do a small Bible study. (Find Your People by Jennie Allen) It was amazing, and I grew so much! The "big thing" I mentioned above, was Jennie Allen's IF:Gathering! Not only was it this HUGE 10 year anniversary event, but it was ON MY BIRTHDAY! That's what made it big to me! My husband agreed, and made sure that not only was I going, he sent my best friend, too! 

As I am preparing and packing to go, sickness struck our household. Kids with runny noses and coughs. My husband starts to feel off, and the allergy cough I've had for months decided to kick it up a notch. The enemy knew that breakthroughs would happen at this event, so he was trying to keep me away. 

God had other plans. A lot of them.

I get all packed, and since I'm going on a girls' trip, I decided to throw on some fake tanner. (Don't worry- I'm a seasoned vet with this stuff, and I use something that doesn't make me look like an Oompa Loompa!) I even pumped a little extra in a little travel case for touchups. I got my toiletries laid out and packed up in the correct sized containers and bags; I put an extra bag on the sunless tanner because I had some light colored tops and denim in there. 

I get through a bus ride, two flights, and a car ride to the destination, and as I'm getting out some PJs, I see that my fake tanner bag was.....

BROWN😱😱

YUP. That sealed container LEAKED, and the zip-DIDN'T-loc. 😰

It was 1 AM where I was, but my body said 2 AM. There was NOTHING I could do at that point but look at the damage that had been done. I could SMELL that it spilled, but I wasn't seeing anything on my light shirts or denim. I needed sleep, so I just said "God, I trust you" and went to bed. 

So my destination wasn't the FINAL destination. We still had to drive to the event. So we pack, AGAIN, and are on the road. I have YET to check my clothes in the daylight.

We arrive to the FINAL stop, and I start to unpack.

(If you also unpack when you get to a hotel, please let me know I'm not the only one in the comments!)

I'm looking at my white tee and tan tank- NO STAINS!
My 2 denim shirts? NO STAINS!
3 pairs of jeans? NO STAINS!
Cardigans? NO STAINS!

All that caught the spillage was some underwear! I mean it would have been nice if there wasn't any spills, but it did. But something caught me by surprise with my response. 

I PRAISED GOD! I said thank you for spilling it PRECISELY where, and how You did! You could have had that spill on my clean clothes, forcing me to spend $$ on new clothes when we got there.
👏🏼But👏🏼You👏🏼Didn't👏🏼

If you're old enough to get to, and read this blog, you're old enough to know that life is MESSY! Relationships, work, family, friends, you name it! People are imperfect, and we cause more trouble than we'd ever admit. No matter where you are on your walk with Jesus, messes are messy. They just get easier* to handle when you let God in. 

This mess was no different. God knew that somewhere on my trip, that bag was going to leak and spill. He showed me MERCY by divinely spilling that onto garments that wouldn't result in new purchases, anxiety or stress, or any other fear-fueled emotion. He BLESSED me. I'm excited to see my faith mature, in that I recognized this as His mercy. Casting Crowns say it so well in their song "Praise You In This Storm"; "But as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away."

What messes have you experienced lately?
Were you able to see God's mercy and grace in those messes?
Were you able to praise Him?
Did you consider what He PROTECTED you from?

I'll be the first to admit that how I handled THIS MESS isn't my typical response to messes. I'm usually a little more high strung, ok a lot more. But GOD! He showed me mercy through FAKE TANNER of all things. I was able to continue on in my trip, be fed and praise without worry or self-consciousness about stains on my clothes. 

Whatever mess you're in, however sticky it is, no matter how far you've gone... 

IT'S. NOT. TOO. MESSY. FOR. GOD. 

He will move in only ways He can, creating beauty from ashes. 

You're the ONE He left the 99 for. The Good Shepherd has you! Rest in that.