It had been a long drive. Across states, through miles of flat open fields then into the rolling hills covered with trees touched by the season’s color.  

A trip like that. A day-long trip is rough on all…the one-year-old and her parents. Pulling into the gravel drive. We were finally home. I looked forward to walking into our special space, our home. I looked forward to crawling into bed and forgetting about the long drive.  

With a weary baby wrapped in my arms, I stepped inside. Immediately, like opening a dirty diaper…”Wham!” A stench, strong. An odor that could knock you off your feet!

Upon turning on the lights we soon discovered the reason for the smell. Mold. All over. In random places. On chairs and decor baskets. The ceiling, rug, and trim. Mold decided to grow while we were away those 12 days. Mold took up residents in the place we made our home. 

Of course, I was frustrated, disgusted. A heavy weight. Again! Another road block. Another detour keeping me from reaching my destination. My plan of crawling beneath familiar covers. 

Yes. Yes, again and again. I need to be reminded. Be reminded that I am not in control. That I am not powerful but I serve a God who is. A God that cares enough to slow me down and remind me of His presence and my need. My need for Him. 

A reminder that a heart left alone. A heart that has “gone on vacation.” A heart traveling away from the daily practice of faith is a heart untended. And a heart untended is in danger, in danger of inviting new dwellers. Inviting mold to grow, overtake. Leaving no room, no place for God to be, to be present. 

It is not healthy for us to breathe in mold long term. Mold in a home is dangerous. Mold, sin in our hearts is dangerous. Untended mold can grow and before we know it we are kicked out of our home. Untended sin can grow and before we know it we have kicked God out of our hearts. 

Have you checked lately for mold? Have you allowed the road blocks and detours to slow you down and draw you nearer to Him? 

I know it is difficult. I know it feels frustrating. But I also know it is good. God knows what is best. He knows you. He knows what you have need of. You can trust Him. Trust God. Let Him dwell in your heart home. Clean out the mold and let God in again. 

 

Isaiah 55:6-9 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ESV

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. NLT

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. NKJV

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ESV