Questions to Ask on the Journey to a Beautiful Heart (& the Hope that Follows)

If we let the Lord work in our lives, He’ll guide and shape us, creating in us a beautiful heart. 


I was certain I was a good person. I knew I’d also be a good wife and a great mother. 

In those early years of marriage, I never thought I needed to change. And quite honestly, I didn’t want to. 

Thank God, He had other ideas. 

honeysuckle - new heart copy

Subconsciously, I think most of us take mental snapshots of who we are in those early years of marriage and parenthood and just expect them to remain the same. The same on the inside at least.

However, only God is unchanging. 

Molded

Slowly like pebbles being smoothed by wave action, like a landscape shaped by the wind and rain, the elements of our days mold us into a very different person. 

The change is so subtle, we don’t even realize it. But an inner portrait taken at the age of 40 will look far different than one taken at age 20 (the same holds for outer, I’m afraid). 

Yes, change will happen. The only question is will the snapshot taken years later capture a vibrant beautiful heart or a hardened, shriveled one?

Did we allow the moments of our past to form sandpaper that smoothed and polished our hearts until a brilliant reflection of Christ radiates and passion and purpose embrace our days?

Or did we allow those same moments to become a drying wind that sucked all the moisture and beauty from us, shriveling our hearts and souls?

Without the Lord being active in our lives, inner beauty shrivels and dies. 

But when we allow God into the moments of our days, when we let Him guide the shaping, it may grate a bit, but the latter inner portrait will be far more radiant than the former. 

When we allow God into the moments of our days, the latter inner portrait will be far more radiant than the former. Click To Tweet

Always Hope

Yet if you are clutching the remnants of a heart that began so full of light and turned dark, there is still hope.

In Christ, there is always hope.

The Lord breathes life into death. He creates newness out of old. He has watered your dried-up life with His own blood. He longs to take your heart of stone and replace it with a new heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). 

Don’t let subtle changes create in you a desolate wasteland. 

Big transitions in life are great times to look back and notice the changes that have sneaked up.

I’m doing that now as my second son heads off to college. 

A Barometer

As you look back to gauge the impact of your journey so far, ask yourself a few questions.

  • Are you noticing the fingerprints of God on your faith?
  • Have you grown in wisdom and understanding of His Truth?
  • Has your love and passion for the Lord and His ways developed an intensity to which you struggle to put words? 
  • Are you able to handle difficult situations with more grace and poise than years ago?
  • Do you feel more convicted of sin?
  • Do people turn to you for encouragement and prayer support?
  • Do you find yourself talking to God throughout the day and resting in Him? 

To sum it up:

Do the differences in you show you are closer to the glory to come or indicate you’re drifting further away? 

Do the differences in you show you are closer to the glory to come or indicate you're drifting further away? Click To Tweet

A More Beautiful Heart

Although each day largely mimics the last, changes will continue. Things tomorrow, next week, or in a year really will be different than they are now.

You and I will be different. 

May the changes we navigate find us with a more beautiful heart, moving a few steps closer to glory. 

“I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36: 25-26

Reflections: Looking back, have the changes in your life resulted in a more vibrant, grateful heart or one that is shriveled and hardened? If it’s the latter, it’s never too late to let God soften your heart. Just ask Him. He’s already paid for it with His Son’s blood. 

This post is part of Bonnie Gray’s Finding Spiritual Whitespace Blog Tour, which I’m excited to be part of. If you’re looking to find soul-rest and would like to check out Bonnie’s book, you can order one here Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest.

21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

By His grace ≈

Julie

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Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.

2 comments on “Questions to Ask on the Journey to a Beautiful Heart (& the Hope that Follows)
  1. I love how you compare the ways in which we can allow the moments of the past to affect us – the sandpaper polishing us to a reflection of Jesus or a dry wind sucking the moisture out of us. So true, Julie. Praying our hearts will be vibrant for Jesus, not shriveled up and hardened!

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