Soul Work: Being Under Construction

Under Construction- being built or repaired -Webster

I have been driving the same route to work for the past few years now. One day something was different. When it was time to take the usual right turn, to the street that leads to the office, I was met with a “road closed” sign. I would have wanted advance notice about having to take an alternate route other than the sign.  I did not get an email, text alert, or phone call about this change. I like to be mentally prepared for changes. Needless to say, I had to take a minor detour to work that day. Construction on that road continued for a few weeks thereafter. I simply had to make an adjustment in regards to my usual route, it wasn’t fun, but it was necessary. When a road, home or office is under construction the process can be difficult, inconvenient and lengthy but for the most part, the purpose of a renovation is for improvement. In the same light, there will be detours in our lives that we will not be prepared for. We will reach certain seasons in our lives where our former selves cannot go. There are places that God wants to take us spiritually that old thought processes, old ways of doing things will not be able to sustain us in the months and years to come.

Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving a broken, damaged, or outdated structure. Renovation can refer to making something new, or bringing something back to life and can apply in social contexts. – Webster

Fix what is broken.

Most people walk around in a cloud of denial, pointing fingers at others, thinking that personal development is for everyone else but them. That is a dangerous way to think. It is for both men and women. Joining a gym, going back to school or starting a new business are great #goals to work on. Congrats on all of your endeavors!  I believe we have to give attention to every part of our lives. We cannot neglect our souls.  You are responsible for the condition of your soul. Plant seeds into people’s lives, lead people to Christ, love people with the heart of God. Do not forget to tend to your soul as well. Paul spoke about making sure that He was fit so that while he preached to others he wouldn’t be disqualified (1 Corinthians 1:9-27). You will be the one that gives an account for your life. What we refuse to deal with in our soul will bleed through into different areas in our lives. It will affect your relationship with God and people. It will continue to resurface until you learn the lessons and heal. A wedding ring can’t remove the wounds, status and position can’t cover the scars, and a new promotion will not remove post-traumatic stress disorder. It may give relief but it will be short lived.  In order for us to get to the next season of our lives, our soul needs to go under construction.

The purpose of being under construction is for God to restore us to complete wholeness. When someone betrays you, takes advantage of you, use you, mislead you, or hurts you in any way it can cause great distress in our heart. I know we live in a thug life, get over it society. We don’t have time to feel pain so we pretend like it doesn’t exist. Here’s the issue, brushing pain under the rug doesn’t mean it goes away. It can lay dormant for years. It can show up as sickness, anxiety, nervous breakdowns, depression, suicidal thoughts etc.  In order for God to heal you, you must allow Him in. Vulnerability should start with God. Everyone’s healing process and journey is different. If there is unresolved pain in your life. There is a reason some things are coming up in your soul. It could be God wanting to heal an area in your life. I am a huge advocate for asking for help and/or going to counseling. He won’t be able to repair a certain area if you don’t allow Him to assess the damage.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds- Psalm 147:3

God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit- David (Psalm 34:18)

Wholeness is connected to healing, deliverance, holiness and sanctification. You may have to start with a new foundation.

Check your foundation! (Matt 7:24-27)

 If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything -Alexander Hamilton

If your foundation, worth and value as a believer is not solid, you won’t be able to be who God created you to be. You will always reach a road block. If who you are as a person is built on sand (ex: money, status, approval, and popularity), then you will not be able to handle the pressures of life. Your validation and identity should come from Christ, the solid rock, not from a parking space, your name on a plaque, a huge promotion, accolades and admiration from people. People will disappoint you, and shiny awards will not fulfill your voids. Where does your identity come from? Where does your hope come from? Any prop that is holding you up or gives you your significance outside of God, is an idol. In order for God to restore you to wholeness, He will have to strip you of everything that is causing you to have a faulty foundation.

Let Go or Be Dragged- Zen Proverb

Everything starts with surrender. “I Surrender All” and “I Give Myself Away” are beautiful hymns. Surrendering to Christ is a daily act. When you reach the end of yourself…that is the beginning of your new life with Christ. This is for veterans in the faith and new believers.  I believe God will do everything in His power to help us. By any means necessary -Malcolm X. It can be a willing act of surrender or a battle. It’s a battle between your will vs. God’s will. In order to be restored, it is supposed to be a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit.  You have to tell your flesh to have several seats. “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you” (Psalm 32:9). Could you imagine the Holy Spirit having to wrestle with you to go in the right direction? I don’t have a horse, but I have a dog.  Let me tell you the struggle is real. When he’s on a leash he has a mind of his own. When I walk him… He walks me instead. I have to get his attention, because he has a mind of his own sometimes. I can only image what God has to do with us.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6).

There will be areas of your life that it’s easy to hand it over to God. Pray more, read the bible, make it to church on time, or join a new ministry. Oh that’s a piece of cake. I’m not saying that those goals are not important because they are.  Any area of your life that is not submitted to Christ is an area that needs “work.” This work may be gut wrenching, but you won’t have to do it alone. Will power is not enough, the Holy Spirit is the one who will enable you to keep on going. It will not be a walk in the park, but developing your character will be well worth it.

It’s about progress not perfection -Unknown

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There will be areas of your life where you will soar in! On the other hand, there will be areas where you will be crawling. I do not want you to start obsessing over your flaws. We are all a work in progress. You won’t have to make changes all at once or in your own strength, again it will be the Holy Spirit that will help you. Pray and ask God for His help. There is strength in your weakness. There is a thin line, Appreciate and celebrate your strengths. However, do not allow your strengths to create conceit and superiority over others in your heart. Even in your weakness you can boast, it is an opportunity to lean on God for His supernatural ability in that area.  I want to encourage you. You will make progress, you will take great leaps and bounds in your faith walk.

If you think you don’t need to go under construction…

Yes you do. EVERYONE has some level of flaws and character shaping that God needs to take care of. We are not immune from the pruning process. Ahh The “pruning” process. It’s not glamorous but it is necessary. You may be unaware of areas in your life that need repair. Our soul is like a garden, if we don’t tend to the garden, you can grow weeds of unforgiveness, strong holds, and bondage and not even know it. Brace yourself for impact! Seeing your humanity is not easy, it can be a painful process. God is a comforter! Ask Him to show you what changes that He wants to make in your life.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.  -David (Psalm 139:23,24)

You will never arrive to a place where you will not need God. Self-righteousness has no parts in the kingdom of God. We are flawed human beings. Just like the saying “there’s always work to be done.” Sanctification is a lifelong process. That is not an excuse to sin or remain in bondage. There will always be in area of our lives that God is perfecting, pruning or correcting.

Let God be God in your life, step off of the throne and surrender to His will. Awareness is the first step. Knowing what areas that you need healing in is good. However, you are responsible for taking action. It may feel like your life is falling apart all around you, it may feel like pieces of your heart has shattered into a million pieces. When you are being rebuilt, it’s going to look worse before it gets better.  In the end, you will be an upgraded version of yourself for God’s glory. Only then, will you be able to handle the next season of your life. The beauty of being under construction is that when people see you, they will see the Christ in you.  Take heart and be encouraged! ❤