Crumbs on the Floor
The other day at work, I tried to eat a crumbly shortbread cookie without making a mess. I strategically placed a trash can beneath me to catch the inevitable crumbs. Yet, despite my best effort, when I moved the can, the floor was still scattered with them. Some were caught in the bag, but others had escaped over the edge. In that moment, I saw a powerful simile for life.
Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we make a mess. We can be hurting and, without meaning to, “bleed” on other people. We may not always see the damage we’re causing or be thoughtful enough to prepare for the fallout. We might even walk away from the messes we create, oblivious to them (thinking someone else will clean it up).
However, God is not our maid, waiting to clean up after us. He has already provided a way for deliverance, healing, and wholeness through His grace and His Blood. Our own efforts to fix things often come from a place of human weakness. We forget to ask God for the best way to handle situations, speak to others, or process our challenges (and emotions that spill from our mouths).
Scripture reminds us that our judgment can be flawed. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” While a cookie won’t lead to ruin, this verse warns that choices we believe are right can have unforeseen and destructive long-term consequences:
This can manifest in many ways:
- Choosing not to share the gospel because of past church-related hurt.
- Deciding not to attend church to avoid someone you dislike.
- Refusing to forgive because you don’t know how to handle deep wounds.
- Failing to follow Jesus as you know you should, influencing the children who are watching you.
- Continuing in sin while finding ways to justify it, despite knowing God’s word.
Just as the crumbs fell to the floor, God’s grace was shed for us, so we don’t have to be defined by the messes we make. Whether we see our mess, ignore it, or choose to walk away from it, being in Christ means we have the power to face our mistakes, reconcile the damage, and find true healing. That is the path He has made for us.
AM