Chip and Joanna Gaines make construction look easy!
In just 43 minutes of running airtime (less commercials) the HGTV television series, Fixer Upper, transforms less than attractive homes into beautiful ones.
Chips antics provide necessary comic relief to reduce the stressful moments. Joanna’s decorative prowess lends confidence to the projects. And, their witty interchange — combined with their skill allows hesitant — and often skeptical buyers — to end up thrilled with the transformation.
Today, I’m writing this blog from my closet. Not because I want to, but because of necessity.
Construction workers are remodeling our home. It’s been a beautiful home. I had things relatively in order. I knew where to go to find items. Now, I can’t find anything. And…
… It’s taking a lot longer than 43 minutes of running airtime to reveal the transformation!
My wife, Vicki (like Joanna) has some skills in construction. But I’m not Chip!
It’s difficult for me to live in a mess. I find it challenging to laugh while going through the process. Unlike my wife, who can see what the end result will look like, I’m more of an “I have to see it, to understand it” guy. That’s just how I’m wired.
This remodeling project has caused me to reflect: My life is always under construction.
There has already been a lot of change in me. I’m not the same person I was. However, God sees that there is still more refinement and reconstruction necessary to reveal the unique and beautiful transformation that He can see, but I cannot see…yet.
Unlike Chip and Joanna, God chooses to take longer than 43 minutes to reveal the transformation process in our lives. We can see changes made by comparing the “before” pictures of our lives with what we see today. However…
… Looking ahead to see what our complete transformation will look like clearly is difficult for most to imagine.
The apostle Paul recognized this challenge as well:
“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.[1]”
As followers of Jesus, we understand: Our transformation process is morphing us into the full image of Jesus. However, that process is not a one-time reconstruction project that can be revealed in 43 minutes!
It’s a life-long construction undertaking.
At times it is painful, disorienting, and disturbing. It will regularly infringe on our convenience and frustrate us. However, it is critical that we do not lose heart!
Paul reminds us:
“For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.[2]”
Today, I’m thankful for an empty closet (unlike my dogs, George and Gracie, who are terrified by all of the noise), where I can remember:
The benefit of the construction process in my home — and my life — far outweighs my momentary discomfort.
The comfort we have in the chaos of construction is: We can trust God who sees the end result that we cannot see, yet.
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 2 Co 3:18.
[2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 2 Co 4:17–18.