Faith Titus

We have been looking for a home for the last few months. With Shirley’s unknown future looming ahead of us, we are working hard to get supports in place for the long haul. Part of this includes her getting her room, and having a nurse who can monitor her overnight so we can sleep longer than 2-3 hours at a time. Part of it involves a single-story home that is handicap accessible or able to be made accessible. There are a lot of pieces that need to move synchronistically together.

In looking for a new home and trusting God to provide, and mentally planning to move in the next 2-8 months, I have been decluttering like a madwoman. Not only that, but long term suffering has a way of making you realize what is important to you. And disclaimer; it’s not stuff.  So last weekend, when we had nowhere to go, and nothing essential to do, I decided to go through the girl’s toys and our books.

And as we purged of things that don’t “bring joy” to our life, I felt a sort of catharsis. It felt good to be freeing ourselves of things that were taking up space and not enhancing our lives. It felt magical almost.

And having studied the minimalist movement, and talking with moms who live and breathe it, I can see the appeal. It’s less to manage, less to clean, less for kids to fight over, or fewer toys to pick up at the end of the day. It’s more cost-efficient and space-saving. But, what many of these minimalists are missing is the gospel.

They spend all their energy tidying up the disorder in their homes, without addressing the disorder in their hearts.

They spend all their energy tidying up the disorder in their homes, without addressing the disorder in their hearts. They address the mess around them but ignore the years of sin, bitterness, anxiety, anger, built up in their hearts. They empty their closets but miss out emptying themselves of anything that isn’t Christ.

And it’s evident because it’s never enough. It’s always an ongoing process. And even when their homes are void of anything that doesn’t bring them joy, they still find themselves wanting. Their anxiety is still there because they are still dealing with the idol of control. Their anger is still there because they haven’t dealt with the idol of comfort.

Friends, I am all about minimizing. Because of our circumstances, I need less stuff to clean and manage. I love not having to pick up a million toys at the end of the day. But before I spend all my devotion to making my home clear of clutter, I must direct my focus on dealing with my heart.

Dealing with the heart is the real work of a believer. It’s the hard, messy work of deciding, what really brings you joy(which can only be Christ). It’s the painful work of putting to death our sin, so that Christ can abound. Our children will let us down. Our husbands will fail to love us as we desire. Our friends won’t understand. Only Christ can fulfill that deep longing in our souls. Only the gospel can address our anxiety, anger, and pride.

So while you’re cleaning up this post-holiday season, don’t neglect your heart.