A Creek Full of Clutter

We live along a creek that is easily affected by rain or the lack of it. One day you can walk across the creek, and after a day or two of heavy rain, it rises into raging rapids. In the spring, we have had so much rain that trees collapsing upstream make their way down to us and settle against the giant rocks below our property.

Many times we have carried chainsaws over and thrown the cut logs back into the current. One time we even tried Tannerite to blow apart the jam. But this time, we allowed the debris to accumulate for nearly two years. After the creek reached the highest level we had ever seen, we were left with a tangled mess of trees, sticks, garbage, and mud.

When we finally went over to clean it up, I found Christmas bulbs, Easter eggs, a pallet, and all kinds of disgusting things trapped underneath it. Yuck.

Standing there looking at the pile, I could not help but think about how much we sometimes resemble that creek.

Resentment, confusion, bitterness, unforgiveness, and hurt slowly collect in our hearts. At first, the buildup may not seem serious, but over time it begins to block the healthy flow God intended for our lives. Because we fail to deal with these things properly, they eventually spill over into our conversations, attitudes, behaviors, and relationships.

Acts 3:18–19 says:

“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

When we clear the clutter of sin from our lives, God brings refreshment to our hearts. Just as removing the large logs from the creek allows the water to flow freely again, repentance removes the barriers that keep us spiritually stagnant.

Keeping our hearts refreshed takes daily work. It is a choice to remain mindful, obedient, and surrendered to Christ each day. Left unattended, spiritual clutter will continue to pile up until it overflows into every area of our lives.

But when we continually bring those things before God, He is faithful to wash away the debris and restore peace where chaos once settled.