Next Generation Ministry Blog

Have you ever made a mess of something? Whether it was intentional or not? 

Yeah, me too. 

This past weekend I was talking with middle school students about Abraham, one of the early pioneers of faith.  God called Abram out of his homeland, away from everything he knew, away from his family...and to what?   God called Abram to "a land HE would show him."  And with that land was a promise - a promise that Abram and his wife Sarai would be the parents of generations to come (they were 75 years old), that God would bless them with such abundance that their blessing leaked into others they came in contact with, AND that God would be with them so intimately - that even Abram's enemies would be considered God's enemies.  That's a lot of promise.

Abram responded in faith - he took steps into this promise.  Little steps lead to big places!

But, here's where the story gets crazy - even though God had promised Abram and Sarai children...Sarai was still unable.  So - Sarai took matters into her own hands - she convinced Abram to sleep with her servant Hagar (this is like reality television).  While this sounds crazy - at the time is was quite normal. 

Sarai became quite jealous of Hagar and started treating her poorly. So much so, that Hagar escaped to live in a desert.  

Abram, Sarai and Hagar made a pretty big mess of the whole thing.  

Often times, when we recognize the mess we've made - we think, "surely God can't love us with this.  God won't stick with me seeing the mess I've made."  But, nothing could be further from the truth!

God comes to us in our mess.  God shows up to Hagar in the desert - promising blessings to her.  God shows up in our mess too. Jesus, God's Son, comes into the world to meet us in our mess.  He doesn't wait for us to get cleaned up. He doesn't wait until the mess goes away.  He come to us in our mess, because it's HIS heart to see beyond our mess. 

Parents: you have the opportunity to help your kids when they've made a mess of something.  You are their reminder of a God who joins them in their mess and see beyond it.  One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to share those times you've made a mess of things. Your honesty with them will be experienced as grace.  

Our middle schoolers made a mess of this canvas - only to watch as a heart was revealed...right from within...the mess.