Ruined
Ruined. Such a small, seemingly insignificant word. But in all honesty it packs a big punch.
Most use it haphazardly, "ugh, my pants are ruined." After coffee is spilt.
Or when the babysitter cancels at the last minute one might say "well, now our plans are ruined."
Maybe you get half way through a recipe only to realize that you have no eggs, which are needed. "Great, now the meal is ruined."
But that isn't the kind of ruined I am talking about. Because honestly, you can buy more pants, plan another date night and make another meal. All was not ruined.
The definition of ruin is a) a falling down; collapse b) cause of destruction c) the action of destroying, laying waste or wrecking d) a ruined person, building or object
Destruction. Now that is a powerful word. I had to look at the meaning of that word and it states "the state or fact of being destroyed; scenes of death. THERE IT IS. The feeling that comes with feeling ruined. Like it is the death of something. When something is truly ruined it is unusable, it is dead. Or so it seems to us humans. We throw stuff out in a minute if we think it is ruined or useless.
Just so we are clear, I have felt ruined. Or I have done the ruining.
Lets talk about some things in life that actually matter if they are ruined, unlike pants, date night and a recipe.
Have you ever felt like your marriage is ruined? Maybe you are responsible for that. Or maybe not. Either way, it is ruined. We aren't talking about you and your spouse not talking for 12 hours, we are talking about you and your spouse sleeping in different rooms for months. You are both there, but that is it. There has been no intimacy for 6-8 months. Or maybe there has been infidelity, that will definitely ruin a marriage. The marriage is dead. Ruined.
What about finances? Have you ever ruined those? Made a bad business deal, ignored debt for too long until your credit or finances are utterly ruined? Bankruptcy and repossession loom over you daily. Ruined.
What about your reputation or testimony? Have you ruined that by falling into sin, selfishness or blantantly turning from God? And now, you are afraid when someone hears your name or sees you, all they think about is the sin you have committed.
How about friendships, family relationships, your kids, or your ministry?
If you have ruined any of those areas of your life, or find yourself ruined... I am hear to share some hope with you.
David committed adultery, and then murder.
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and innocently accused by Potipher's wife.
Job lost everything. EVERYTHING.
Paul killed Christians.
The Samaritan woman had 5 husbands.
Every one of these people in Jesus' time found themselves ruined.
Some by their doings, and some by others. And there are countless stories like that all through the Bible. It gives me hope, that there is hope for the thieves, the adulterers, the murderers, the fornicators; those of us that find ourselves completely and utterly ruined.
What do you do when you sit amongst the rubble. You can't just easily shake it off with a smile and pick up like nothing happened. There have been hurts, scars, addictions; things not easily shaken off.
First step first: Keep believing in God. This seems to be the easiest step, but it isn't. Often times when we find ourselves in the bottom of a pit we doubt that God is Who His word says He is. We doubt the promises that used to one time bring us hope and encouragement. We doubt His love and the calling that He has on our lives. We think we have ruined it. I hate to tell you, and myself, we are not that powerful. We can NOT ruin God's plan. We can deny it, we can choose differently, but we can not ruin it. He has a purpose and a plan for every one of our lives and when we believe in Him we can start to walk it out.
Secondly, let it go. Your past. The hurt. The sin. The betrayal. The failures. You will never move forward holding on to all of that.
Thirdly, cling to His hope. Because it is only because of His hope, grace and redemption that you will walk out of the ruins of your life.
If you let it, the ruins will be the best thing that ever happened to you. It will perfect you, in Christ, if you just let it.
Most use it haphazardly, "ugh, my pants are ruined." After coffee is spilt.
Or when the babysitter cancels at the last minute one might say "well, now our plans are ruined."
Maybe you get half way through a recipe only to realize that you have no eggs, which are needed. "Great, now the meal is ruined."
But that isn't the kind of ruined I am talking about. Because honestly, you can buy more pants, plan another date night and make another meal. All was not ruined.
The definition of ruin is a) a falling down; collapse b) cause of destruction c) the action of destroying, laying waste or wrecking d) a ruined person, building or object
Destruction. Now that is a powerful word. I had to look at the meaning of that word and it states "the state or fact of being destroyed; scenes of death. THERE IT IS. The feeling that comes with feeling ruined. Like it is the death of something. When something is truly ruined it is unusable, it is dead. Or so it seems to us humans. We throw stuff out in a minute if we think it is ruined or useless.
Just so we are clear, I have felt ruined. Or I have done the ruining.
Lets talk about some things in life that actually matter if they are ruined, unlike pants, date night and a recipe.
Have you ever felt like your marriage is ruined? Maybe you are responsible for that. Or maybe not. Either way, it is ruined. We aren't talking about you and your spouse not talking for 12 hours, we are talking about you and your spouse sleeping in different rooms for months. You are both there, but that is it. There has been no intimacy for 6-8 months. Or maybe there has been infidelity, that will definitely ruin a marriage. The marriage is dead. Ruined.
What about finances? Have you ever ruined those? Made a bad business deal, ignored debt for too long until your credit or finances are utterly ruined? Bankruptcy and repossession loom over you daily. Ruined.
What about your reputation or testimony? Have you ruined that by falling into sin, selfishness or blantantly turning from God? And now, you are afraid when someone hears your name or sees you, all they think about is the sin you have committed.
How about friendships, family relationships, your kids, or your ministry?
If you have ruined any of those areas of your life, or find yourself ruined... I am hear to share some hope with you.
David committed adultery, and then murder.
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and innocently accused by Potipher's wife.
Job lost everything. EVERYTHING.
Paul killed Christians.
The Samaritan woman had 5 husbands.
Every one of these people in Jesus' time found themselves ruined.
Some by their doings, and some by others. And there are countless stories like that all through the Bible. It gives me hope, that there is hope for the thieves, the adulterers, the murderers, the fornicators; those of us that find ourselves completely and utterly ruined.
What do you do when you sit amongst the rubble. You can't just easily shake it off with a smile and pick up like nothing happened. There have been hurts, scars, addictions; things not easily shaken off.
First step first: Keep believing in God. This seems to be the easiest step, but it isn't. Often times when we find ourselves in the bottom of a pit we doubt that God is Who His word says He is. We doubt the promises that used to one time bring us hope and encouragement. We doubt His love and the calling that He has on our lives. We think we have ruined it. I hate to tell you, and myself, we are not that powerful. We can NOT ruin God's plan. We can deny it, we can choose differently, but we can not ruin it. He has a purpose and a plan for every one of our lives and when we believe in Him we can start to walk it out.
Secondly, let it go. Your past. The hurt. The sin. The betrayal. The failures. You will never move forward holding on to all of that.
Thirdly, cling to His hope. Because it is only because of His hope, grace and redemption that you will walk out of the ruins of your life.
If you let it, the ruins will be the best thing that ever happened to you. It will perfect you, in Christ, if you just let it.
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