Day 17: How to Deal with Mess
SENT: 21-DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING
How to Deal with Mess
Written By: Joel Fadojutimi
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28
I love order. I thrive when everything is predictable and structured. I even love creating order for others, which is why teaching brings me so much joy. But when I had my first child, all sense of predictable order disappeared. Every parent knows that no matter how much you plan, a day can go in directions you never expected. My daughter completely reshaped my view of mess. I learned that sometimes, I simply need to embrace it.
God is a God of order, yet He often works powerfully in messy places. The church in Corinth is a perfect example. In Acts 18 we see that Paul planted the church through opposition and difficulty, yet God told him, Do not be afraid, I am with you, and many in this city belong to me. Later in 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the same church as enriched in every spiritual gift. They were growing, gifted, and full of potential. Yet they were also messy. Their issues were so significant that Paul wrote long letters to address division, immorality, confusion, and pride.
The mess did not mean Christ was absent. It meant they needed more of Him. Spiritual growth and spiritual mess often coexist. God does not abandon messy churches or messy people. He transforms them.
So why does God allow mess in our lives? Because when everything feels in our control, we stop depending on Him. Mess humbles us. It reminds us who is truly in charge. Paul prayed earnestly for the Corinthians because he knew only God’s wisdom and power could straighten what was crooked.
Our response in the mess:
Focus
Do not fixate on the chaos. Fix your eyes on what God is saying. Like Joshua, we need God’s perspective before we step into difficult places.
Trust
We may not understand the why, but we can trust His character. Return to the Word and let faith rise.
Obey
Be ready for His instruction. Peter obeyed Jesus and let down his nets again, even when it made no sense, and breakthrough followed.
God is a God of order, yet He often works powerfully in messy places. The church in Corinth is a perfect example. In Acts 18 we see that Paul planted the church through opposition and difficulty, yet God told him, Do not be afraid, I am with you, and many in this city belong to me. Later in 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the same church as enriched in every spiritual gift. They were growing, gifted, and full of potential. Yet they were also messy. Their issues were so significant that Paul wrote long letters to address division, immorality, confusion, and pride.
The mess did not mean Christ was absent. It meant they needed more of Him. Spiritual growth and spiritual mess often coexist. God does not abandon messy churches or messy people. He transforms them.
So why does God allow mess in our lives? Because when everything feels in our control, we stop depending on Him. Mess humbles us. It reminds us who is truly in charge. Paul prayed earnestly for the Corinthians because he knew only God’s wisdom and power could straighten what was crooked.
Our response in the mess:
Focus
Do not fixate on the chaos. Fix your eyes on what God is saying. Like Joshua, we need God’s perspective before we step into difficult places.
Trust
We may not understand the why, but we can trust His character. Return to the Word and let faith rise.
Obey
Be ready for His instruction. Peter obeyed Jesus and let down his nets again, even when it made no sense, and breakthrough followed.
Reflect
In this season, how focused am I on Christ?
What instruction is God asking me to obey?
What instruction is God asking me to obey?
Prayer
Teach me, Lord, to draw closer to You even in the messiest seasons of my life. Amen.
Posted in SENT: 21-Days of Prayer and Fasting