“I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in a dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
Have you ever felt called to something? I used to worry that God might call me to do something like be a missionary in a third world country – without running water, electricity or Starbucks. He hasn’t called me to do that, but I’ve had a strong conviction for the last few years that he wants me to share my struggles through writing with the hope that it will help others. Who knew that putting myself out there and sharing what a hot mess I am would be my calling? And who am I to write a Christian book? I think I’m a decent writer, but I haven’t been to seminary or had any related formal education. However, I’ve felt a continued strong conviction that hasn’t really wavered that this is what He wants me to do which is why I started a blog, and now writing a book. It appears that I have a lot of issues to write about!
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthian 1:26-27
In Holy Ambition, Chip Ingram talks about the people God uses:
God has chosen very regular, ordinary, common people just like you and me to accomplish the biggest events in all of human history. He used a teenage girl to bring His Son into this planet. He used a blue-collar worker to raise Him from childhood and teach Him about a life of integrity and worship. He used common fishermen to lay the foundation for the greatest revolution that has ever touched the world. And God wants to use you and God wants to use me in the same ways.
He even uses hot messes like me! So what is a hot mess? Here are a few definitions:
- When someone’s thoughts or appearance are in a state of disarray, but they maintain an undeniable attractiveness or beauty (urban dictionary)
- A person or thing that is spectacularly unsuccessful or disordered, especially one that is a source of peculiar fascination (dictionary.com)
Just yesterday, I was to speak at an event for a local organization during lunch. I walked the dogs before I left for work and forgot to change from my tennis shoes. Also, it rained most of the day and I forgot my umbrella so, by lunch time, my curly hair looked like an alpaca. And what’s the difference between a llama and an alpaca? See this is how my brain works. Today I turned on the blender to make my morning smoothie and forgot to put the lid on.
I have lots of other “hot mess” examples which you’ll see in this book. I compare. I have a crazy brain. I people please. I try to control. I can’t cook – or keep plants alive – or do arts and crafts.
I generally LOOK fairly put together, but the rest of me often isn’t. I don’t know that I am peculiarly fascinating as it says in the “hot mess” definition – probably just peculiar. So I think we have now established that I’m a hot mess and that God chooses ordinary, foolish people. Let’s move back to the “new thing” I’m doing. Sometimes we stay mired in the “as is” and don’t trust Him to move forward with the new thing. Although it has taken me way out of my comfort zone, I’m glad that I’m doing the new thing and can’t wait to see what the next new thing will be.
If you aren’t sure of your calling, ask God to give you eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to do His will and He will lead you towards your purpose.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
