In Others’ Words: It’s a Mess

One of the great truths that I’ve embraced is that life is messy. Really, really messy.

And I’m okay with that.

When I say I’m okay with life being messy, I don’t mean I like the messiness of life. Not at all. What I mean is I’ve stopped pretending life isn’t messy … that life doesn’t hurt … that things don’t get way out of my control …

More times than I care to admit, I am confounded by my circumstances or someone else’s circumstances.

Life is messy.

I used to find myself in the midst of a crazy situation — a problem, a conflict, an emotional conundrum — and I would think to myself: Just give me a minute and I’ll figure this all out. I knew I could fix the situation. Clean up the mess.

Sometimes I could. And then there were so many times I couldn’t.

Remember the lyrics to the children’s song about going on a lion hunt?

Can’t go over it.

Can’t go under it.

Can’t go around it.

Gotta go through it.

Sometimes there’s no fixing the mess. All you can do is admit there is a mess — and go through it. 

Here’s the funny thing: This whole “Life is messy” reality? It’s the hard truth that guides as I write my stories. I believe life is messy … and that God steps into our messiness. That He doesn’t leave us here in all our mess, saying “Good luck with all that.” No, He offers us grace and hope and escape. That’s why Colossians 1:13 (NASB) is one of my life verses:

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son …

In Your Words: “Life is messy” is one of the great truths I’ve embraced. Do you believe life is messy? Why or why not? What’s a great truth in your life? 

In Others’ Words: It’s a Mess #InOthersWords #quotes #perspective
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“Really, life is full of contradictions. Life is messy.” #quotes #TimBlakeNelson #reallife
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