Renovating

Today we’re talking about something we’ve all experienced one way or another — renovating.

Whether it’s a room, a routine, or a part of your life, renovating always starts with the same thought: “This… could be better.”

And that’s true spiritually too. God is constantly, gently renovating us from the inside out — not tearing us down, but building us up.

So let’s settle in and walk through this theme together.

You know what’s funny about renovations? They always look easy on TV.“We’ll just knock out this wall,” they say.

Next thing you know, you’ve discovered plumbing from 1972 and a family of dust bunnies plotting against you.

But still — we love the idea of making something better.

Speaking of building something better, here’s some good news: we are partnered with 4B Disaster Response Network, a nonprofit with a vision to rebuild hundreds of homes impacted by natural and man-made disasters in the 4B Area. They’ve established many strong partnerships to mobilize volunteers and raise money to help disaster victims.

There is still so much good happening in the world.

The truth is, renovating isn’t just a home-improvement idea — it’s a spiritual one too. God is always doing a slow, steady work in us… shaping, strengthening, refining.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) — “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Renovation takes patience.

It takes time.

And sometimes it looks messy before it looks beautiful.

But God never stops rebuilding what’s broken or refreshing what feels worn out.

Let’s talk about renovation realities for a moment.

You start out confident, thinking, “This project will take maybe… two hours.”

Three days later, you’re at the hardware store for the fourth time buying one tiny screw that somehow costs fourteen dollars.

We recently started renovating our front bathroom — and we’re not new to construction because my husband used to own a construction company. We thought we could gut and rebuild the bathroom in a week. What we didn’t expect was that my husband would get sick… so now we’re looking at a longer timeline.

Renovating is humbling.

But there is joy in it too. These little delays can, in the end, be seen as divine moments — reminders of where God’s hand was and why. God determines things regardless of what we think will happen.

Sometimes little surprises show up right when we least expect them. God’s timing is perfect.

Renovating anything — a room, a relationship, or even a habit — can feel overwhelming, but God meets us right in the middle of the process.

Carry this encouragement with you: God is rebuilding me with purpose, patience, and care.

God loves us, and the work He is doing may be tough, but we can be encouraged because He works faithfully.

Renovation has a funny way of revealing things you weren’t planning to deal with.

You peel up flooring and discover… another layer of flooring.

You take down a cabinet and find wallpaper that belongs in a museum.

You open up sheetrock and find outdated wiring or hidden issues.

But that’s what happens when you make things new — you uncover what needs attention.

Life works the same way.

When we ask the Lord to reveal things to us, we don’t always know what will come up. But one thing we can know is this: whatever He reveals, He will walk us through.

One of the most comforting truths about renovation is remembering that progress doesn’t have to be fast to be real.

A wall gets patched.A corner gets cleaned.A floor plan gets changed.A color gets chosen.

Little steps add up.

Spiritually, it’s the same — God changes us line by line, moment by moment, layer by layer. Room by room.

That’s how I picture the places of my heart and mind — as rooms God walks into, turns the light on, and begins to clean or renovate.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT) - “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Remember: God is the One who truly knows and sees us. He created us, so He knows exactly where the work needs to happen.

It’s amazing how He builds things we didn’t even know we needed.

Let’s take a moment to pray. I don’t know about you, but I often need the reminder that God is in control and that the unknowns we face will be okay when we remember that He guides our steps.

Lord, thank You for being the Master Builder of our hearts. When life needs repairs, when pieces feel loose or broken, remind us that You are patient and skilled. Help us trust the process — even the messy parts — knowing You’re creating something strong, steady, and new. Amen.

You ever start fixing one small thing… and suddenly the whole room is involved?

It’s like someone with ADHD completing one task but noticing five others along the way.

You tighten one handle — and now you’re painting the door.

You replace one shelf — and now you're reorganizing the entire pantry.

Renovations expand without permission.

And that’s how God works sometimes — not randomly, but purposefully.

He starts with one small area of your life and gently says, “Let’s freshen this up too.”

Not out of frustration…but out of love.

He sees the finished picture even when all we see is the dust.

God never rushes a renovation.

He cares about the details — the hidden structure, the foundation, the parts no one sees.

And in your life, He’s doing the same.

You’re not unfinished — you’re under construction.

And the Builder knows exactly what He’s doing.

Question of the Day: What’s one small area of your life that could use a little renovation right now?

Just something to ponder as you go through your day.