Does it have to get worse before it gets better? 3 Lessons I learned while cleaning the garage.

Ever start a project and shortly after, you realize that your mess just got worse than it was before?

Just like many of you (I’m sure), I have dedicated my nights and weekends at home to the honey-do list or projects. Mandey and I recently tackled the dreaded garage. When we moved in two years ago, all the garage boxes were tucked nicely against the walls and on the shelves. They were never unpacked, but throughout the last year, we have needed the items in those boxes. We have opened one here and another there only to find out when it isn't packed back up the same way, the garage starts to get cluttered. Hence why everyone with boxes in their garage tends to have a messy garage, lol! Not to mention the addition of all the kid’s toys and bikes.

Let's be honest; there is never a good spot to store kid’s bikes, scooters, power wheels, and tricycles!!

On the first day, we made some great progress: hanging up our bikes, organizing and unpacking the shelves on the left side, and beginning on the right side. Still, at the close of the night, I began to get this anxiety in my chest as I looked at the disaster of boxes and tubs that had vomited, leaving packing paper and stuff everywhere!

As I closed the door and turned out the light, I thought WHY did we ever start this? It is so much worse than it was before!

I have seen so many believers make this statement. They’ve had this dream of a cleaned up and organized life as they surrendered their heart and life to Jesus and start the “cleaning process.” They are moving priorities, making choices, tossing out friends they shouldn’t have in their life, then they hit this moment and realize this is a lot of work and their current situation is a mess. They are stuck on this dream of their new organized life but are now littered with people and choices that don't fit any longer. Life gets hard and they start to think, WHY did I ever start this?

The emotions of the newness and excitement have worn off and they are left saying, "how did my life just get worse?"

Now back to the garage…It’s day two and I am doing everything I can to avoid the arduous task of finishing by extending my workday as long as I possibly can. Let's be honest, one of the hardest parts about cleaning stuff out is you have to ask the hard questions: Where did this come from? Why do we still have this? And what were we thinking when we bought it? as you laugh at your past "treasures." It also forces you to evaluate your stewardship as you relive the "must-have" moments of life.

Let me give you a few quick lessons I learned while cleaning the garage:

1. There are things/people for a reason and for a season, know the difference between the two!

As I pulled out items from boxes, Mandey and I would stop and laugh, sometimes cry, then talk about the value that thing once held. Then we had to ask, "does this still have value to us?" or "will this help us in the future?" If so, we found a place to put it and if not, we donated it or threw it away.

Evaluate the things of your life and see if you need to continue to hold on to them or if it’s finally time to let go of those habits and priorities.

2. Not all the "junk" from your past is bad!

Mandey and I found several things that no longer have any value and honestly a little embarrassing, that found their way into our keep pile because it's part of our story. Don't be embarrassed about your junk because we all have it and it just goes to show the story of what God has done in your life. You can't go back and tell yourself no, so quit hiding your past and the junk that comes along with it. Embrace the vastness of what God has brought you through!

3. Do it now!

The delay in your action only makes it more difficult. We have talked about cleaning that garage for a year and every delay began to make the task feel more significant than it was. What felt like it was going to take two years, only took two evenings. Whatever you need to deal with, do it now because every delay adds to the problem's perceived magnitude. If you wait until you feel like it, you won't ever do it!

Can I give you some hope from the other side?

It is worth it. The feeling I have now as the garage door rolls up and we walk to the driveway to watch the kids play is one of peace and freedom; seeing the organization and knowing everything is in its place. We do not have to be embarrassed that the neighbors may see our junk (there's a lesson in that, lol).

Do it, remove stress, anxiety, and embarrassment from your life by going through all the boxes of your life and reorganizing them to match your new decision, or maybe an old decision you haven’t fully bought into yet.

Your new life is here and it gets better every day. Don't trust me on this, but trust God as he says in

Romans 6:6-11.

6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

God has created you anew spiritually; you have been justified and made right with Him instantly in the moment you prayed that prayer. It just takes some time and energy as you become more and more like Him every day. That organized, cleaned out life is available to you. So chose to do the work it takes to make it "worse" before it gets a whole lot better!