Construction Zones of the Heart

 

Carl and I just returned from East Texas after spending a few beautiful days at Epiphany Ranch. But if you’ve driven the highways between Alto and Austin lately, you know something about that trip.

Construction zones. Everywhere.

Every few miles we ran into orange cones, blinking signs, and long lines of cars waiting patiently while road crews waved traffic through one lane at a time. At several points we sat there… engines idling… wondering if we’d ever move again.

Annoying? A little.

Necessary? Absolutely.

Those new roads will make travel smoother and safer. But in the moment, it’s hard to picture the finished product when all you see are cones and delays.

And somewhere between those construction zones, a thought hit me.

My heart looks a lot like that highway.

Piles of insecurities still need hauling away. Detours pop up when my attitude needs adjusting. Sometimes the Lord sets up a few orange cones to keep me from veering into places I shouldn’t go.

Ever feel that way?

“Why am I still struggling with this?”
“Why does this bother me?”
“Why isn’t progress faster?”

The apostle John once wrote to believers who felt the same frustration. He reminded them:

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known… but when Christ appears, we shall be like Him.”
(1 John 3:2)

In other words — the work isn’t finished yet.

When we first trust Christ, we are instantly forgiven and welcomed into God’s family. But the process of becoming more like Him takes time. It’s a renovation project of the soul.

Loose translation? Our hearts are under construction.

The good news is we’re not managing the job site alone. God has given us the Holy Spirit as our divine Project Manager.

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16)

He directs the work. He moves the cones. He keeps us heading the right way.

So if your life feels like a construction zone right now, don’t lose heart.

Progress is happening.

And one day, when we finally see our Father face to face, the cones will disappear… the road will be smooth… and the project will be complete.

Until then, drive slowly.

God is still working. 🚧💛