“The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

This past year I was able to plan for and purchase a new metal roof. It is a project I have been hoping to have done to my house for many years and for many reasons. We live in NH and get a generous amount of snow each year which builds up storm after storm. I have an old cape house and the rafters create the perfect environment for ice dams. The ice dams let water build up on the roof which eventually leaks down into the house along whatever path it finds. In my case, the path went straight into the downstairs bathroom. This was a big problem as the ceiling in the bathroom would need repair each winter.

I was really thankful that the leaks didn’t show up anywhere else in the house, but it was always a possibility. This made the approach of winter an ominous thing for me as I knew up ahead was the potential for more water damage. Not to mention the muscle and time it takes for me to hoist the roof rake up 2 stories high to carefully scrape down the snowfall in hopes to avoid an ice dam. Even when I did clear the roof, the ice dam still built up and the water found it’s way into the house. Needless to say I was so relieved when I was able to afford a new roof that would fix the ice dam issue once and for all.

Finally the day had come; the install team arrived and the new metal was set out on the lawn. My excitement lasted only a few moments before my heart began to sink. I looked at the color of the metal and I realized that it was going to be lighter than I had anticipated. I swallowed my pride and pressed on with hopes that once it was installed I would feel differently. Besides, there was no turning back now anyway.

The install team worked tirelessly to get the roof done. Their work was completed in under a day and my new roof was finished before dinner. The time to see the finished work had come. As I turned the corner to see my new roof my heart sank as far as it could. I had not accounted for the sun. The metal has a reflective coating to help reduce energy consumption. This is good, unless you are already uneasy with how light the metal is for the roof, and unless the pitch of your roof is such that the light reflects off the entire thing, making the metal even lighter than before.

So here I am stuck in my disappointment with my too lightly colored metal roof (that I had waited so long for!). I had a few options: continue to sulk, change the roof, paint my house, or turn it all around with a thankful heart. I fully recognize that being torn over the color of my roofing metal is absolutely 100% a first world problem. My delicate little pride was bruised in the color choice; but honestly it is not important when I put it into perspective of eternity. As I prayed for a new heart over the roof, God brought to mind this thought: sometimes we don’t account for the Son the same way I did not account for the sun with my roof. Huh.

It made me think of times when I planned and prepared for something and then Jesus stepped in and changed the final product all together. If we aren’t paying attention, we might actually become discouraged at the end result when it doesn’t go to plan, not recognizing that was His touch that rounded it all off and actually made it perfect. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in how we see things going that we forget to account for the Son. We forget to allow for room for Jesus to do His work. If we are not careful we can actually end up in a position of sulking over changes and final results that aren’t what we expected when really, that was God’s plan all along.

We can build a church and open the doors,but only God can change the hearts of people and bring them into His sanctuary to worship Him. Without leaving room for the Son it would just be another building. We can plan all the ministry ideas and events we want, but only Jesus makes it meaningful. Without leaving room for the Son it would just be another program.

If we get in a place where everything has to go “according to plan” we might be in a place where we are not making room for the Spirit to lead. So lets build and plan, and then let go and let God do what He does best: perfect the things that we set out to do for His glory. Let’s be intentional at giving over the pieces we pull together in our works for the Kingdom and enjoy watching God bring it to fruition the way He sees fit.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

As for my house, the roof will tie in just fine eventually, it is all a process; and this is not the end result. Sometimes change leaves us in the awkward spot between old and new, and that is where the growth happens. I will let it be a reminder to be thankful in all things, even when it doesn’t turn out as planned, and even when it looks a little like the ugly duckling in the process. And who knows, maybe the lighter color will result in a reduced energy bill next summer. I will have to wait and see, and I am okay with that.

Father, You are the power behind all that we do, may it all be done in your mighty name and for your glory. Thank you for the provisions you have made to keep your people safe and protected. Thank you for my very much light grey roof and for the protection it will provide my family and for the peace of mind knowing the winter leak issues have been resolved. Thank you that you tie it all in together in the end, and thank you for the dose of humility as we work through all the awkward growth and change and in between stages in life. We can’t wait to see the final picture of your plan for humanity and relish in all that you have done when we are in Heaven with you and it is all revealed to us! Praise be to God. In Jesus name, Amen.