“Dad, we have a GIANT problem!”

Given her tendency to emote, I was skeptical that my daughter’s perceived problem was legitimately a colossal catastrophe. But once I entered her room, I admit I was wrong!

I didn’t realize such a small bottle of White-Out could speckle such a vast surface area. The patterns reminded me of that weird deer called an okapi…actually, that’s a lie. It was like an entire herd of okapis had taken up residence on her wall!

And as I was considering how to deport the okapis before my wife came home, I noticed my daughter was packing her travel suitcase.

“I’m moving out.”

Fighting to suppress peals of laughter, I asked her, “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know, but there’s no way I can stay here.”

Well, after a night filled with scraping, acetone, and touch-up paint, she ended up avoiding eviction. And the wall actually looks even better than before!

And sometimes when we take matters into our own hands, we create epic messes. We feel so ashamed that we want to pack our luggage and run away.

But God is a God of mercy. And He encourages us to cast our burdens on Him as He cleanses the chambers of our heart from worldly patterns and unholy paint jobs.

Don’t try to move out. It’s not even an option!

Psalm 145:8