Beneath the Outward Pristine Often Lies a Muddy Mess

A blanket of snow covered our mountain in pristine color, disguising the harsh browns of winter and the muddy mess where lush meadows waited for spring. The trees and forests, rooftops, and vehicles were painted in thick white frosting — beauty beyond description.

White, like our robes of righteousness that cover all shame and make all things new.

White, like the glorious light of God’s Presence. Luminous. Incandescent.

A Flawless Landscape. Untouched. Pristine

The snowplow had passed our house a little earlier, making my daily walk a bit easier. The wonder of this remarkable snow touched my heart as I took in the flawless landscape around me. Untouched. Immaculate. Spotless … pristine.

As I rounded the curve and approached the pine canopy arching across our road, I noticed that the snowplow’s blade had scraped beyond the pavement into the edge of the meadow. The plow dug in deep, disturbing the white perfection. Large chunks of snow rolled over, revealing mud and debris and long-forgotten pine needles.

I paused.

I thought about my faith journey, how on the surface things appear smooth, maybe lovely to others. But underneath there is debris and long-forgotten wounds that muddy the soil of my heart.

The Ground Tilled by the Snowplow will Respond Like Garden Soil Tilled by the Gardener

From time to time, the Lord plows through my heart, the sword of His Spirit digging deep, exposing what lurks beneath my white robe of righteousness. Things I had forgotten about. Things I thought had been overcome. Things that were yet to be surrendered to His lordship.

It’s not pretty — that muddy mess beneath the immaculate robe He has clothed me in.

But once the mess is exposed, God can do His work.

The ground tilled by the snowplow will respond like garden soil tilled by the gardener. Fallow ground, hardened by drought will revive as the snow melts into streams of living water for a thirsty earth.

The soil in my heart will do the same.

The debris exposed by His love will break down into nourishment for new growth in my walk of faith. The long-forgotten wounds will be healed by the light of His glory, creating fertile soil for the things of God to flourish.

Come Spring, I suspect there will be a new cluster of wildflowers thriving on the edge of the meadow where once a muddy mess clung to the edges of overturned clumps of snow.

Once the winter of my soul has passed, I suspect the fruit of His Spirit will thrive where long-forgotten wounds and debris of the heart clung to the hem of His garment yearning to be whiter than snow … pristine in the eyes of God.

God’s Word Will Never Return to Him Void

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
 
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55:8-11, AMP

SELAH

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,