Life is sometimes really yucky. Sometimes it really feels that all we do is shoveling dirt. How could we conquer the mount of dirt in our lives? How should we  respond to all the dirt thrown our way?

One thing is certain. If we store inside of us all the accusations or wrong doings we’ve experienced,  we will burst or, at least, feel yucky. We need to learn to deal with the dirt in our lives. Otherwise we will drown in it.

My answer might disappoint you but I assure you it is powerful and useful. Promise me, you will try it if you haven’t yet. There’s no other way to stay clean in the dirty world. There is no other way to thrive in the muddiness of life. There is no other way to be happy in the midst of hardships in life.
      
       Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
       He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
       Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
       but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
      (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

Do you not know? Have you not heard? We need to learn to lean on God. We need to learn to dump all the bad stuff to Christ. We need to cry to God. We need to share the hurts, the wounds, and the dirt with God.

There’s no need to drown in yuckiness. God is the answer! He is waiting for you 24/7! We need to ask God to care, to heal, and to cleanse us inside out. And it will happen. We will be set free of all the muddy dirt and we can conquer the mount of yuckiness by the grace of God.

Learn to do that and you will live in grace. Learn to do that and you will rest in God. Learn to do that and you will experience God’s power in your life first hand.

       So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
       (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

 

Gracious God,
We come to you muddy and feeling yucky.
We’ve been wounded.
We’ve wounded others.
Take away what’s bothering us.
Cleanse us, heal us, renew us.
Restore us into your service.
Equip us to share love in the midst of hatred,
beauty in the midst of ugliness,
hope in the midst of hopelessness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you experienced God’s power first hand? Do you know how to deal with dirt in your life?

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Image courtesy of Tonya Christner, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. This post is refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Hear it on Sunday, use it on Monday, Playdates with God, and counting blessings with Ann Voskamp:  #1043 The only way to deal with the dirt is to give it to Jesus. But it really works!