Construction seems to be an inescapable part of my life right now. Living on the western edges of the suburbs of Phoenix, there is a freeway being built in between where I live and where actual civilization dwells. Every morning on the way to take my children to school, to get to work, or even to buy a loaf of bread, I must maneuver my way through it. Every week it seems I am being detoured down a different path, facing a new roadblock, or being splattered by a new barrage of dump trucks dropping dirt and sand along my route. Frankly, it’s getting a little annoying. For the girl who is always running late, unexpected detours do not help my punctuality. I’m pretty sure the guy who owns the car wash in our town has purchased a vacation home just from the money I’ve had to spend at the car wash so I can see out my windshield. And most of all, for the cast of thousands of trucks, excavators, graders, and men wearing hard hats everywhere, you would think that after so many months, we would actually witness something being built!
Frankly, I feel like that daily mess I drive through is a telling picture of my own life, especially when it comes to parenting. I seem to be trucking along, only to hit an unexpected roadblock that leaves me frustrated and confused as to which way to turn. I am dumping endless amounts of biblical principles into our children, but I rarely witness anything being built from it. And the time it takes and the teachable moments are often messy, leaving me feeling like I need a good washin’ after wading through the mud with them. And just like that construction site, I am not the only one who is doing the building! They have a devoted daddy, faithful teachers, caring coaches, and I have a circle of friends who I am constantly asking for aid in where, when and how to continue building. And again, it seems like I rarely witness any changes on the horizon.
As I was complaining about this to the Lord on my drive home from school this morning, He gently reminded me of something. How often have I poured into you, child, waiting for you to change? Whom have I sent to help build your character, to teach you faithfulness? It may have been a silent whisper in the depths of my heart, but the message was loud and clear: keep building. There is a master plan and God is faithful.
I’m so thankful for the blueprints of God’s Word. I’m grateful that the One Who has the power to instantly speak the world into existence is patient enough to allow us to be built slowly, and He never gets tired of supplying us with the materials and fellow builders we need to keep going. I’m encouraged by His promise that He who began a good work is faithful to complete it. And I’m in awe that wobbly, cracked, earthen vessels, could be deemed of any use to the Master Builder.
So, I encourage you: keep building. When you hit a roadblock, face a detour, or get pounded by rocks and mud: keep building. Remember, you are not the only builder, and there is a master plan. The foundation and the framing are crucial, so don’t stop: keep building.
What can you pour into your children today?
