The world is a dusty place. Something I have consistently noticed throughout the world is women literally sweeping dirt floors. I have often chuckled to myself thinking “what is the point?” It’s going to get dirty again in about 10 seconds.
This week I am in Lima, Peru. We are working with a man named Rob from YWAM. Yesterday we went to help clean a church. We were asked to sweep the floors and clean the chairs in the church.
Surrounded by the desert, this area of Peru rarely sees rain. Most of the buildings are not fully enclosed. This church was no exception, and the open air had brought in a thick layer of dirt and sand. I volunteered for the task of sweeping the dirty floor.
As I was literally pushing the dirt around with my broom I laughed at the irony. I had seen this so many times over the past 9 months and now I was the one sweeping the dust. Relocating the dust into a central area was more accurate. Then I feel like God shared something with me.
Isn’t that what He does for us? The floors of our lives are messy and often covered with a layer of something. However, God delights in sweeping the dust in our lives. He loves to uncover something beautiful even if it only lasts a brief while. He shines and polishes things that He knows we’re just going to mess up again. The Lord has consistently done this for me over the past 9 months.
One of the things God has constantly reminded me of on this journey is my value. I have believed the lie that if I am thin I am loveable and safe. I have believed the life that if I gain weight I lose value. God has been sweeping the dust off this lie again and again. He sweeps it away and the dust of my mind covers it up again. Then He sweeps it away again. He is so patient.
I want to write more about the deep inner work God is doing in my life and the glimpses I see of Him everyday. I see Him in the people He allows me to encounter and the way He whispers truth to my heart. I struggle with the words to articulate these experiences. I am still processing all that is happening. I can assure you that Jesus has done such a work in my heart during this trip that I will never be the same. I have never felt so free, so grateful, and so excited about life. Thank You for your support and God bless!
