SEEING BEAUTY IN THE MESS

Years ago, a dear friend shared a story that stayed with me. He said one day, I came home to find my kitchen turned upside down. It was a disaster—bowls, utensils, flour on the counters, chocolate smears on the walls. I wasn’t happy. But then, something caught my eye. Right there on the table was a little note, written with clumsy letters and smeared with chocolate fingerprints. It said, “I’m makin’ sumthin’ 4 you, Dad. Your Angel.” At that moment, my frustration melted away. My perspective shifted. The mess didn’t disappear, but it no longer bothered me because I saw my little girl’s love shining through it. She was creating something for me.”

Friends, that’s how our Heavenly Father sees us, and it’s how we can learn to see Him in the midst of life’s challenges. When we look at our lives, we might see the mess—the struggles, the challenges, the imperfections. But God sees the love. He sees His children striving, creating, and offering themselves to Him. He sees His image reflected in us, even through the smudges and imperfections. And He delights in what we’re making for Him because it’s done in love.

The key to peace and joy in our lives is learning to see the mess from God’s perspective. If all we see are the smudges, the struggles, and the imperfections, we’ll miss the beauty. We’ll miss His fingerprints in our situation. If we only focus on the mess, we’ll miss the message. Psalm 16:11 reminds us, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances; it comes from recognizing God’s presence and purpose in every circumstance.

So, the next time you look at your life and see the chaos, take a moment to shift your perspective. Ask yourself, What is God creating in me? How is He working through this situation? Remember, the mess is temporary, but His love and purpose are eternal. And just like that dad who looked past the flour and chocolate smears to see his daughter’s love, your Heavenly Father is looking past your imperfections and seeing your heart. He’s saying, “Keep going. I’m proud of you. I’m with you, and together, we’re making something beautiful.”

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
January 7, 2025