Stronger Stuff: Handling Life’s Messes

Written by Laura Ketchum

Day 1: The Mess

Take a moment to watch this video, "Stronger Stuff":

Messes are a part of life.

Some messes are unavoidable. You might find yourself in the middle of a family disagreement or a tricky situation at work. Or maybe you have a toddler who gets themselves (and you) into messes often.

But there are a lot of messes that we get ourselves into, like the mess Nick encounters in "Stronger Stuff'. We call these messes “sin.” Sin happens when we decide to prioritize what we want over what God wants.

Over the next couple of days, we’ll talk all about how we deal with a mess when we find ourselves in one. About how cleaning up our own messes is next to impossible, and what it takes to actually be free from a mess, once and for all.

But today, we’re going to talk about what happens before sin happens.

Sometimes, sin can feel inevitable. We see it coming—we know we’re going to say something we shouldn’t say, or do something we shouldn’t do. And sometimes, we believe there isn’t anything we can do about it. The temptation to sin can feel so strong.

But the truth is, no sin is inevitable. While we’re imperfect people who will mess up from time to time, no sin is written in stone. The Bible even says that, when we’re faced with temptation, God always provides us a way out.

That doesn’t mean taking that way out will always feel easy. Sometimes avoiding temptation can feel really, really hard. But it is possible to avoid a mess before it happens.

How do we do this? First, self-awareness is important. You need to know in what ways you’re vulnerable to sin. If you’re not sure, ask God to give you eyes to see your problem areas.

Second, you need to have a plan. Rather than letting sin sneak up on you and catch you off guard, think through what you’ll do when you’re faced with sin. Knowing your escape routes ahead of time can make a big difference.

Third, accountability is important. Telling a trusted person about the temptations you’re facing can help you stick with your plan when those temptations arise.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about what we do when we actually find ourselves in a mess of sin. But for now, wrap up today by reading through the reflection and prayer below.

Reflection: In what areas of life are you most vulnerable to sin? Spend some time thinking about what temptations you face most often, and then make a plan that will help you avoid that sin in the future. Consider what friend or family member you could go to for accountability.

Prayer: Father, thank You for always being with me, especially when I’m faced with the temptation to sin. Would You give me awareness of the ways I’m most vulnerable to temptation and help me think through how I can avoid sin in the future? Thank You for never leaving me to face sin on my own—no matter what, You always provide a way out. In Jesus’ name, amen.