Our garage is 60 years old, with a squeaky door, random cupboards, and an open ceiling with rafters where we store hockey sticks, spare baseboards, skateboards, and odd things we might use someday. It really needs an overhaul, but this is not the season to tackle that kind of project.

But the weather was perfect for painting, and with winter coming, I knew this might be the last window of opportunity to paint. So I started with the trim, the siding, and one more can of paint is waiting for me to finish the door.

A temporary fix. Whitewash. It will look good for 1-2 years but not much more.

I’m grateful to have the strength to do a project like this. A year and a half ago, I was recovering from a surgery that left me with one less intestine, wounds, and scars; then, 8 months later, a large benign tumor was removed near my spine.

This precious body of mine has been through a lot. And I’m grateful that surgeons don’t whitewash a problem or do temporary fixes. They dig deep, taking care to remove problems and promote healing and growth. I’m glad our accountant functions the same way, and our pharmacist, lab techs, and food inspector in our local grocery store. An afternoon of painting can make an old garage look better, but it’s not the best approach.

God doesn’t do quick fixes either. He doesn’t treat us as a project that can be improved in an afternoon. In Psalm 18, the writer declares:

“God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

He rewrote the text! Started from scratch! A complete overhaul. Every detail, every dusty corner of our hearts swept clean, lights turned on, renovation engaged. Imagine the planning, the coordination, the timing. God’s love for us is so full and so overflowing with grace; he will spend our whole lives inviting us to enter into this renovation project with him.

So tonight, as I write in the dark at 2:30 am with a migraine that won’t let me lay my head down, pain that has halted my painting project for 4 days now…I pause, take a deep breath, and sit with the questions.

God, what are you working on?

What area of my life are you refining right now? Where can I turn my attention?

Help me see what I need to let go of or stand back to give you more room to work.

I want a full renovation, make a mess, stir up the dust, make noise!

Thank you, God, that you believe I’m worth the effort. 💕