In the Midst of the Messes
Watching our eight-month-old foster son learn how to be a human has been exciting, stressful, and very messy. I have been helping him figure out how to hold his bottle which means more laundry, baths, and cleaning of the couch on my end. We have been slowly introducing new baby foods into his diet and simultaneously watching our napkins and wipes dwindle away as we clean up all the unwanted slobbery spit-ups that come pouring out of his mouth. He has also discovered a new way of carpet cleaning by rolling around the floor and picking up layers of cat hair that cling to his sticky, drooly face.
Overall, this baby stage has been messy.
I know with young kids there are guaranteed messes along the way. Potty training, arts and crafts, dropped ice cream, spilled cheerios, baking disasters. But these are needed if we want to teach our kids how to do things: how to use the toilet, how to hold an ice cream cone, and how to bake cookies. It would be unreasonable to get upset at the messes if our kids are still learning. So if we can apply this mindset to children, can we give ourselves some grace and apply it to our adult lives as well?
I’m in a Bible study and we just wrapped up the death of Solomon and the reign of his son Rehoboam. Solomon’s kingship had started off on a great foot as he asked God for discernment to be able to rule the people well. If this was how my story started, I would think my journey was headed in the right direction:
“Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father . . . At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you….I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in… Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil . . .” (1 Kings 3:3, 5-7, 9 ESV)
Sounds like Solomon is wanting wisdom in order to avoid some messes.
God is pleased with his request and Solomon goes on to become the wisest man on his side of the earth. He gains peace and prosperity for his people. If he were my son, I would be beaming. No drama, no trauma, no worried momma. But as Solomon gets older, he searches for other pleasures, specifically in women, and specifically in women God specifically tells him to stay away from. 1,000 of them to be exact. These women worship false gods, and they lead their husband astray. God’s anger is kindled, and the following promise is made to Solomon:
“Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.” (1 Kings 11:11 ESV)
Solomon started off on the right foot but ended up making a mess. I use him as only one example. We are familiar with King David, his dad, who was a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) but who also made a huge mess when it again came to women. Moses, too, made a mess when he disobeyed God and lost his chance to see the promised land. Abraham messed it up when he grew impatient for his wife to become pregnant. And let’s not forget the prodigal son, who was so messy he wanted to eat pig slop.
So what’s my point?
Getting back to Solomon’s story, I want to point out God’s grace in the midst of this king’s messes. God just told Solomon he would tear the kingdom from him because of his sinfulness,
“Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” (1 Kings 11:12-13 ESV)
God’s mercy comes in to keep the promises that were made to David and to let Solomon know that the mess he made will not ruin God’s plans. The one tribe that remains with Solomon’s son is the tribe of Judah, and we are familiar with who was descended from this tribe.
Jesus is the Great Cleaner of all messes. He bleached the sin from our hearts and cleansed the earth. We will one day get to live with him in a heaven that I’d like to think will never need a maintenance or clean-up crew. No dust, no cobwebs, no rags or brooms. The ultimate clean.
Like Solomon and others from the Bible, we too can start off on a glorifying journey but find ourselves in loads of messes. If you are in one right now, know that nothing can mess with God’s plan for you. Repent, turn back, and run towards him to clean you up. Remember God’s mercy as you do, and make sure to pass it on to whoever needs help cleaning up their messes, too, whether they be literal messes or spiritual. Humans tend to find themselves in both.
loves sunshine, quiet mornings, half-caf coffee, cute kitties, and anything crafty. She and her husband live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they are excited to be pursuing foster care with the hope of bringing love to kids in need.
Photograph © Kelly Sikkema, used with permission
