Chipping away

Several months ago something changed drastically in my life. For the last ten years, my husband and I have had the great pleasure of being empty-nesters. It has been a glorious time that I  had dreamed of as a young mom. Those days of someone following me into the bathroom, or cries in the night were over and we were having a delightfully beautiful time in our marriage.

We ate where and when we wanted

We travelled with no worries of children at home

We participated in ministry with no sacrificing family time

Life was free of extra burdens!

Sounds fabulous, and it was until………..

My mother was diagnosed with dementia and required our assistance and so it began. I’d like to tell you that this “woman of God” (me), was happy to have her mother move into her home. Unfortunately, I was hesitant, to have my nice, pleasant life changed in this manner.

Have you been here? Have you been unwilling to allow God to use a situation to grow your faith? 

God has and continues to use my new life with mom to chip away at my old self to create something new in me.

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5:2-5

Let me be honest, It has been hard, gut wrenching at times, confusing, sacrificial, frustrating and yet there has been joy in the midst.  I know it doesn’t make any sense but somehow there is a new thing growing up inside of me.

Romans tell us that our problems can build character. It doesn’t tell us that it will be easy, fun or even exciting! I can attest to that! This process of chipping away at my old self is hard, and I struggle most days to see it as a blessing. However, when I look back over the months I can see His hand, leading me, His Spirit calming me, and convicting me of some stinky, bad attitudes, and His Son showing me how to live a life that bestows grace upon grace to others.

Would I choose this, no! I really like comfort and independence, but I said, “Yes” to serving God any way that He would call me to.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Romans 8:29

The chipping away is not just so that He can remove that which is not pleasant to him, but also so that He can remake us into an image that is beautiful to Him, to become Christ-like in our whole being. When I think about my life in those terms, it becomes less of a challenge and more of a gift. I can’t believe I am saying this, “Having my mom live with us is a gift that God is using to refine me. It is out of love that he called me into this season and I praise Him for it!”

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. Luke 5:36-38

The Father is calling us to allow Him to remake us any way He chooses so that He can fill us with new attitudes, new desires, new experiences and ultimately to be filled up to overflowing with His Spirit.

This is not for the faint-hearted however he has taken this stubborn, strong-willed child and given me a glimpse of what He wants me to be. Surprisingly, I am still saying yes because what He has to offer is more beautiful than anything I have ever known.

Where is He chipping away your old self? Are you willing to allow Him full access to redesign you?

Jann Cobb is  a wife, a mom and a teacher. She loves coffee, Paleo and finding God in the everyday moments.  You can hear more from her heart at http://www.janncobb.com