“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3)
Got clutter? Maybe you have an “everything drawer” where a variety of things land. Scotch tape. A screw driver. Lipstick. A puzzle piece. Several unidentifiable key. . .
I’m here to admit I’ve accumulated tons of clutter. My corners, drawers, and closets overfloweth. I’ve saved every file from my teacher training 34 years ago. Every memento from family excursions were tucked away (never to be seen again!). My motto: you never know when you might need it. When in doubt, keep it.
The wonderful thing about having multiple sclerosis (MS) is that I have an excuse. I’ve used all my energy to raise two sons while teaching and being a wife. No one expects me to have an immaculate home.
It took me several decades to build my collection. Who could ignore so much junk? In our home, the sounds of teenage boys have been replaced with the commands of accusing litter. “Clean me up! Organize me.” My response, “I’m the queen of clutter. Let me survey my kingdom of stuff!”
But reason has won. I know my MS is progressive. The limited stamina I have will fade. Now is the time to restore order.
So I’ve begun to bulldoze the mountain of mess. Each item is quickly dumped into its appropriate box: toss, give away, recycle, sell, or keep.
The value is instantly assessed. A ticket to the circus–toss (the memory is the value). A broken figurine–toss (don’t bother repairing). A rarely-used scarf–give away. It becomes easier to dispose of once-treasured items.
Plans of trashing things filled my head as I begin my morning devotions. That’s when God begins His de-cluttering of my thoughts. Removing self-pity and fear by reminding me that He restores souls, redeems lives, revives the weak, and repurposes the disabled.
Do you feel like a bruised reed that’s been tossed aside? Do you feel like a smoldering wick about to go out? Isaiah 42 reminds us God deals gently with the weak. There are no throw-away people in the eyes of God. Each person’s value is worth the price of His only Son.
Prayer: Dear Father, strengthen my feeble hands and weak arms as I put our home in order. Help me begin each day by being washed in Your love. You lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. Thank You that my value is not in my ability, but in Your love for me. Amen.
About the Author:
Vicki understands special needs as a patient, parent, and professor. She has had multiple sclerosis since 1993. Her 31 year old son was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She’s taught special education as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor. Through her online community she reaches out to other parents of children with special needs. http://theblogfrog.com/1505794
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Do you have thoughts or feelings you wish God would de-clutter?
Sometimes I feel like a bruised reed and am waiting for the final crush to come. I have wondered where God is in all the bruising. As you can tell, I have been going through a rough patch lately. The scripture you use in your devotion, Vicki, is one that I learned some 40 years ago when I went to a counselor. I could always identify as a bruised reed and today is no different. The scripture gave me hope back then and as I reread it now, it brightened my day reigniting my faith and hope for justice. M y burden feels a bit lighter today. In a way, it help declutter my perspective and thinking for today. Thank you!.
thank you Vicki, that was a wonderful, timely reminder – both that God can and will use us despite our weaknesses, and also that we need His help to declutter our junk thoughts and attitudes. Both were issues for me today as I met with my boss, struggling with how to appropriately express my anger and frustration at being told I’m redundant! 🙂
What great timing. I made contact today with someone from out church to get a couple of teenagers to come help me with cleaning the pantry and kitchen. i have a lot of stuff I need to get rid of. I to have MS, along with lupus and a few other things. My energy is getting less and less so now is the time to organize my home. Through my devotions been working on de-cluttering my mind as well. God is good all the time and I love how so often the devotions are just what I need when I need it.
Hi Peggy,
‘Love how the Lord reminds of His love by using the same verse…especially over a passage of time. When that’s happened to me, I’m amazed at how much I’ve changed and yet how much He’s remained the same.
So glad that verse brightened your day.
Anne,
You most certainly are not redundant! You’re blood bought by God’s only Son. I needed that verse as much as you…since I had to tell my boss I couldn’t teach on a regular basis any more. I’m grateful to be used by Him however. Have a blessed day in Him!
Linda,
It’s so nice to know someone else completely understands. Kinda ironic how my depleting energy level motivates me (to clean while I still can).
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick
heads up. The text in your content seem to be running off the screen
in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon.
Many thanks