An Uncluttered Life

Clutter. I hate it. Dust and dirty floors don’t bother me but the stuff that piles up jumps right on my last nerve. To overcome it, I tidy up and light a fire under my family to do the same. Not always easy, but manageable.

What about life in general? Although we may prefer it uncluttered, is there danger in thinking it’s supposed to be trouble-free?

I grew up with someone who expected life to be perfect. Nothing dusty or scary. He longed for a perfect home and a “normal” family. He compared his life to an illusion, to others whose lives appeared problem-free and uncomplicated.

When things didn’t go as envisioned, he forgot his blessings and was overwhelmed by his burdens. He sank into a martyr mindset. Without realizing it, he became a willing victim. It seemed everyone was against him. Even Mother Nature thumbed her nose at him when weather didn’t cooperate with his plans. He was a wounded sufferer and it blinded him not only to his need for help and wholeness but to the hope that it was possible.

I believe most of us have an underlying sense of fairness and justice. That’s good. God put it there for a reason. But, it gets gnarly when we think how life should be or would be, if only. If only they’d listen. If only that didn’t happened. We can “if only” and “what if” ourselves to death, spiritual death. We aren’t entitled to an easy, uncluttered existence. That, my friend, is a fantasy.

In her devotional, “Jesus Calling,” Sarah Young encourages us to “relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered life.” To surrender our version of how it should go. In the book of John, Jesus spends a lot of time warning His disciples of the dangers they’d encounter. In 16:33, he says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But, take heart! [Be courageous!] I have overcome the world.”

Aren’t you glad our mental clutter doesn’t have to rob us of peace and abundant life? It’s not always easy, but it’s doable. God says so. Romans 12:2 tells us we can be transformed by changing our thoughts.

Perhaps the closed-in feeling I get around clutter is connected to my claustrophobia. Which reminds me that our minds really are fierce battlefields. I fight irrational messages by thinking: The elevator won’t get stuck, the elevator won’t get stuck, the door will open, just breathe. In a pitch-black underground cavern, I’m reminded the guide who shut the door behind him is not an axe murderer. He will eventually lead me back out to daylight.

When the way is dark, Jesus has our backs. Speaking truth and peace. You will get through this and you’ll be stronger on the other side.

This new year, I’m determined to keep fighting irrational fears, including my own sneaky, martyr mindset by staying connected to God. I do that by reading Scripture and talking to Him every day. Sometimes, every minute of every day. Out loud. Hey, “normal” is boring.

My friends, when we stop looking for flawless in a fallen world, our battle scars remind us we’re not wounded, we’re healed. We aren’t victims, we’re not martyrs, we’re victors ~ moving forward by God’s grace. We’re still standing in spite of the clutter.

I pray peace and rational thought for your journey, my friends:)

 

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