A couple weeks ago, my friend Nathan shared a C.S. Lewis quote in his sermon. I’ve heard so many things since then – whines, complaints, praises, prayers, songs, stories, commercials, and silence.
But I keep thinking about this quote:
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
{C.S. Lewis}
When we had some guys renovating the kitchen at our old house, we were on vacation. (That’s a glimpse of our old house with its renovated kitchen above.) When the guys from Lowe’s install central heating and air along with new windows in that same old house, we were at work. We left town the weekend our bedroom in that old house was being dry-walled. We had walls painted and new flooring installed in the new-to-us house in which we currently live before we moved in.
I don’t like living among messy projects.
But, really, I do every day.
Nothing in my physical house is being renovated or restored or painted or perfected, but the essence of life is we are on a journey of growing and learning and teaching and serving.
We aren’t perfected yet. God isn’t done completing the work he’s begun (Philippians 1:6).
I can be in the midst of parenting, and God is teaching me about patience and grace. Cleaning my house is a reminder to serve others. Being with friends gives opportunities to speak truth and serve one another. Marriage is a sermon straight from the Maker on humility, grace, and unity.
And sometimes these lessons are messy.
God doesn’t require we clean up the dry wall dust or vacuum the crumbs. Formal attire certainly isn’t required. He’s coming into the middle of what we’re doing. He’s making us new moment by moment. He’s renovating our souls for his glory.
And, unlike my tendencies with big house projects, God wants us present as he’s working so we don’t miss the creation – which is bound to look nothing like we expect.
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Kristin, I love the CS Lewis quote! Having lived through a few renovations myself, while the process may not be all fun, the end result is wonderful! So grateful He continues to work with us until the project is completed. Wonderful insights this morning!
I love this. I am in the middle of a few home projects right now and I just want to get my house together. But, I grew up with a renovating Mom, so we always had a project going on. I love the C.S. Lewis quote. I feel as if God is knocking down walls is happening in my life all the time, but as he says, God is not aiming for a cottage, but a palace. Any of us who have been through a renovation in the natural know it is so worth it. So, how much more should we hold on for the end result in us?
This is a great post friend. We are in the process of house hunting and so it was particularly timely. Thank you.:)
Yeah, I agree that his creations and renovations usually are nothing like we anticipate or plan. Only God could trump our dream home redo with something greater.
I love CS Lewis. Such a wise man and so gifted with helping me understand truths about God. That kitchen up there looks enormous! Wouldn't it be great if God did all the renovating as we sleep? Yup.
As always, so very grateful that God is not afraid of messy. Good words, friend.
"He’s coming into the middle of what we’re doing. He’s making us new moment by moment. He’s renovating our souls for his glory." <<< This just makes me stop and say, "Thank you, God!" I know I need those renovations to continue on . . . all for His glory. Great post, friend. I always love when I can join you for Three Word Wednesday. xoxo
Oh Kristin, this is one of my very favorite CS Lewis quotes! Thank you for the reminder. I am so tempted to see the mess and despair or just give up, but the mess is proof He hasn't given up on me. Thank you so much for this 🙂
Don't I know the pain of living in the mess of remodeling! And don't I know the pain of God's remodeling of my messy life! This post spoke directly to me, today. Thank you for the reminder that he is building a palace in me – I'm guessing it'll take a while, yet, there's so much work to do! But I can certainly live with the end justifying the means; I can hold on to his promises. Gotta love C.S. Lewis! 🙂
This was right on time for me, friend. Thanks
First, I love the pic of your kitchen!! I don't like ours at all. I have the dream of one day winning the lottery so we can remodel…maybe! My hubby just happened to see the same picture (I was dropping him a hint) and he said, "Wow, that is so inviting…looks like home." So, there ya go friend!!
Well, it's our kitchen at our old house. We've lived in our "new" house, which, really isn't new, but, you know, for 5 1/2 years. It could have brought one thing from the old house and its layout it would have been that kitchen we remodeled. Otherwise, my "new" house wins and is inviting (hopefully) in other ways! 🙂
So glad you were encouraged, Lyli! 🙂
It hurts sometimes, but it is always worth it. Glad you're here, Janet!
I hadn't heard that C.S. Lewis quote before (obviously I need to read him more!), so I was glad I got enough of it down during church a few weeks ago to then find it online. Gotta love technology! 🙂 "The mess if proof He hasn't given up on me." —> YES! Thanks for that.
Yes, me too, Beth. Thanks for being here.
I need to read more C.S. Lewis because whenever I do it's so very good and true. Let me know if you figure out how to undergo renovations while you sleep – I'd be all about that! 🙂 I'm glad you're here, Michelle!
Housing hunting can be so fun and yet so frustrating, so I hope you're getting opportunities to really enjoy it. Glad you're here, Katie!
Such a good thing to think about, Kathleen! The end result is going to be amazing, beyond anything we can comprehend, but I too often lose focus of that! Thanks for being here!
I'm so glad you're here (and on my Vox app) today! 🙂 i'm glad you were encouraged here because you always do such a good job encouraging others. Love you, Beth. xoxo
Isn't that neat to think about? Our dream home can be (and will be) better than we ever imagine … goodness. It'll be glorious! Thanks for being here, Melody!
I adore your faithfulness on Wednesdays. I love seeing your face here and reading your comments. You're such an encouragement on this big ole internet.
The awesomeness of your words and the C.S. Lewis quote – oh, yes! We are a messy construction project, aren't we?! So grateful that God isn't done with us and that He is constantly molding and making us more like Him. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Thanks for being here with sweet words, Tiffany!
Love the CS Lewis quote. I believe he didn't write one bad thing. I love the example of how just as a house can be under construction we as people are always under construction. Our vision of the final product might not live up to what reality is but with God directing the construction you know it will be good. Beautiful words today.
Thank you, Mary. I'm so glad you're here!
That is a powerful analogy, Kristin, and it is true. He is working on us, he is making us in to so much more than we can ever imagine, but sometimes we have to let the mess sit a while till He has fashioned what He wants us to look like… mainly Him. 🙂
Blessings!
Dawn
Thanks, Dawn. So glad you're here with encouragement.
Great lesson Kristin and I just love that quote. It's so easy to look at the messy project but God sees the completed picture.
Thanks, Mindy! I'm always glad you're here.