Proverbs 14:4 – “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.”
Growth is messy. Whether it’s personal growth, relational healing, or stepping out in faith, real work often comes with struggle. A stable with no oxen might be clean, but it’s also empty. In the same way, a life without challenges might look peaceful on the surface, but it often lacks true fruitfulness.
I once knew of a church plant where things got messy. Conflict arose, and challenges came with the work of planting. They could have avoided all of it by never venturing out, keeping things “tidy” and conflict-free. But they chose the harder path. Though the conflict was unfortunate, they worked through it, holding onto this proverb. They recognized that the mission they were called to was worth far more than a smooth, but fruitless, path.
This applies to our personal lives as well. Deep work in counseling, prayer, or hard conversations can be uncomfortable, but ignoring the mess only leads to a superficial peace. True healing, growth, and transformation require stepping into the work—even when it’s hard.
Sitting on the sidelines of ministry—imagining what could be done or admiring the neatness of our own lives—might feel safer, but stepping in to serve is far more rewarding. In serving, we may come face-to-face with our limitations, weaknesses, or discomfort, but a conflict-free life is too high a price to pay for a life void of Christian mission. True impact comes not from avoiding the mess, but from embracing the work God calls us to.
Is there an area in your life where you’re avoiding the “good mess”? What would it look like to embrace the necessary work, trusting that God will bring fruit through it?