Subscription Lists
Girl Meets God
by Melissa Mathews
“Crisis always reveals character.”
Oswald Chambers
It feels like God is scrubbing on the stove top of my life. Back and forth, up and down, the steel wool moves. (Your stovetop might only need a spritz of cleaner and a paper towel). Then the steel moves in circles-- scrubbing, ungriming, and creating friction. Agh, I can’t stand it, but the pressure keeps coming—unhappy people, hard decisions, pleasant tasks mixed in with unpleasant ones, self-denial. Aghh, again!! I just want things to be easy!!!
But I’m beginning to recognize that with each scrub, each challenging moment, God is taking away the yuck. Every moment of pressure is a chance to decide what kind of life I’m really going to live and what kind of surface I want God to discover once the dirt is gone. Will I trust God to scrub off my bad motives, disobedience, and mean thoughts so I can do the right thing, or will I just let the grossness stay? After all, cleaning is such hard work!
Jesus’ brother James says it much better than I ever could:
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help...Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life”
(James 1:2-12, The Message).
What’s your challenge? What’s the pressure in your life? Money? Unpleasant people? False accusation? Fear? Health problems? Will you submit to a good scrubbing? Will we allow God to use friction in our lives to scrub until there is a bright, shiny surface that reflects His glory? We really should. We don’t want to be embarrassed by a dirty stove when our Dad comes over.
Scott and I have been married 22 years and currently live in Northern California where we are beginning year five as church planters. I also teach 12th grade English and love it.
I would love to hear from you. Email me anytime at melissa.g.mathews@gmail.com
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Girl Meets God" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.