You know, we always hear people say things like, “enjoy the journey”  or “life is a process” and both of those are good, but do you ever just want to act like a 2 year old having a tantrum and stomp your feet saying, “I don’t want too!”

I’m shaking my head at myself, because I’ve been there and more than once. I have to admit, that’s a place I try not to let myself stay very long, but I have visited on occasion, well to be honest, I probably have the t-shirt (if you know what I mean).

A few weeks ago I found a great deal on a desk, $7! I couldn’t pass it up! Sophie had been wanting a desk for her room and this one looked like it would work great and the price was right. I knew going into that we would paint it to fit in with her decor. So, the scratches and such were not of a concern to me.

Well of course, once we got the desk home Sophie was ready to start working on the desk, painting it and such. She had planned out the colors and had assigned duties for both her and I. She would paint the drawers and I would paint the desk. The drawers were to be yellow and the desk a nice old white color.

Now the work begins and what a process it was!! All the hardware needed to be taken off and the piece needed to be cleaned to prepare the piece for painting. Sophie began painting on the drawers and I began painting on the desk. We had all necessary supplies needed. We seemed quite prepared, we’ve been this way before. This wasn’t our first rodeo, so to speak…

It didn’t take long before we noticed it was going to take more time than we had thought. You could say some doubt and discouragement was trying to creep in.

As I began painting the top of the table I noticed how unevenly the paint was going on the how unacttractive the piece was at this point, that’s when I heard this little tid bit… “It’s just a process.” Much like situations in our lives our situation can look pretty ugly sometimes. As a matter of fact, we may want to give up because it seems hopeless, like to much work, or maybe that feeling of “this will never get any better” creeps in.

We could feel the same way about this $7 dollar desk… As we began swiping paint on the desk it didn’t immediatly look amazing. It was layers of paint, patience, and endurance that would prevail but we couldn’t give up. That whole “darkest before dawn” thing often holds true.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to walk away or throw it away, after all? Why do things have to be so hard? The process stinks!

….But it’s neccessary. Although we may get discouraged or frustrated we need to stay the course. Stick with the process.

I know you’re thinking I’m going to show you a beautiful finished product. The desk all ready to be placed in Sophie’s room, but that’s not the case at all. That desk is still in process, just like we are. The key is for us to keep moving forward, to keep working at the finishing the desk-process.

It’s true, we’ll have setbacks along the way and obstacles we’ll have to overcome, but that’s all part of this amazing journey. Learning and growing along the way.

It may seem like a terrible comparison and really there is no comparison, however, I can’t help, but think of the process Jesus went through when he allowed himself to take on all the sin of the world. And not just the sin that had been committed to that point in history (2,000 years ago), but your sin, my sin, our pain and sickness;he took it all. I can’t imagine, Jesus in human flesh, bearing such a burden, walking through what he knew was to come. I can hear him saying to his Father, “if it be your will, let this cup pass from me.”

I’m by no means trying to minimize what you may be experiencing right now or what process you may be having to navigate, but I have found strength in looking up toward Heaven at my Father, who was willing to send His one son to this dark and lost world to cover my garbage with his life. WOW!

Kind of makes what I’m walking through not seem so bad or difficult. Like, if he was willing to walk through what he knew would cost him his life surely I can endure a little difficulty. After all, because Jesus was willing to take on all my garbage, what is there for me to worry about. Not that I’ve perfected this thinking, but even as I write this I’m encouraged by what God is speaking to my spirit.

You may have found your self in an extremely dark and lonely process and you may be wondering how you’re going to keep yourself from dispair. Remember, that before you were even a thought in the mind of your parents God sent Jesus to endure the most horrific and painful processes. One that I will never fully understand.

So, maybe you’ve given up in the middle of the process, maybe it just felt like to much, like you just can’t do it anymore… Pick yourself up my friend, look to Heaven and ask for help. You will still need to walk through the process, but you are not alone!!

We hate to hear this, but this too, is neccessary….

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.                                                         ~Romans 8:28

The rest of the story: Jesus died only to come back to life perfected, and sitting in Heaven right by God still working on our behalf. (Romans 10:9-13)