Messy Mood

Have you faced a messy situation, in a messy mood, with messy hair and
an even messier heart?  I have.

The mirror. I’m back in front of the mirror. It seems that I stand here often. Stuck. It’s as though I’m trying to see if I look, like how I feel?  I’m staring, as though the mirror can answer my question: Can other people see how messy I feel?  

That’s the way of messy situations. They will make us think our feelings are on display as if our forehead magically reveals an LED ticker. Thankfully, that’s not true, yet feelings display in other ways whether we like it or not.
 
Today, I feel messy like I have too much humidity in my hair from too many tears on my pillow. I ponder that maybe there is not enough water under the bridge to make this day feel organized. My act is floundering. I can’t seem to neatly stuff all my stuff into a corner of my brain. I don’t want to. Maybe, I don’t know how?  Focusing with a messy heart feels like work.
Perhaps what I really want is to pour a second cup of coffee and talk to Jesus until I find a way forward. I want to throw my hair in a ponytail and hear from God. I want to sit with Him until the words whispered to Joshua become mine.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

If you’ve been there (if you are there), I see you. God sees you, and He’s not going anywhere. He loves your messy self.

• Messy from lack of sleep.
• Messy from a poor choice.
• Messy from a bad relationship.
• Messy from an overcrowded schedule.
• Messy from an overwhelming situation.

God understands these moments and more. When we are messy, He leans in toward us. And He might not whisper the exact words spoken to Joshua, but the message He gives us will be the exact one we need to hear.

And those pesky feelings? God does those too. He sees and sifts the emotions. With the same finesse used to hang stars, He can pick up our mood and manage it.  He knows when to challenge and how to tread lightly. He counts tears. He numbers each hair.  God can land an encouraging pep talk in the middle of our meltdown without ever missing anything we say.

Being fully heard is a step forward in being fully known, and that knowledge sits at the heart of God Speaks Girl.

Sometimes the very best move we can make is to pour a cup of coffee for a second time.

Big Love,
Jo

A Message for You

Feelings can be hard to manage.  In my experience, whenever I’m feeling messy, it’s most likely that I have too many feelings and too few of them are managed. Perhaps it works that way in your life too. People, even people who love us, can grow weary with feelings work, but God never does. In fact, He leans in toward us, and this truth is always beautiful news. When we are afraid, overwhelmed, exhausted, and out of options – God abides.  Second cups of coffee with Him are relationally priceless. And if your morning is rushed, don’t fret. He’s not going anywhere.

Start the conversation. What do you need to tell God? What do you need to hear from Him?