Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV

It stood up to infant artwork, toddler hand prints, foot scrapes, furniture nicks and vacuum mishaps.  Armed with a scraper in one hand and a potent vinegar and water mixture in the other, I felt invincible.  The rhythm of transformation began.

Spritz, spritz, scrape, peel.  Spritz, spritz, scrape, peel.

It wasn't quite the waltz I imagined.  Instead of long, graceful lengths of wallpaper falling effortlessly off the walls and dancing my way down the hallway, only minute slivers gave way with great effort and force.  After day one, only two small walls stood bare.  Exhausted, I left the dance floor and soaked in a hot bath hoping for a more successful day.

The rhythm of day two felt more like a waltz.

Spritz, spritz, wait.  Scrape, peel.  Spritz, spritz, wait.  Scrape, peel.

Oh, the magic of waiting!  

My patience grew as piece by piece the layers of wallpaper crumpled to the floor.  That potent liquid soaked in and did its job.  

Wanting the end result so badly, I'd overlooked the most important step—waiting.

It only took an extra minute or two and voila!  The rhythm of the dance picked up and the paper slid off the walls with graceful, long strides.  And soon, every wall stood bare before me full of hope and the potential for beauty.

Isn't it like that with us sometimes?

God plants a dream inside of us or gives us a glimpse of a vision and we want the end result right away.  We forget that sometimes there are layers of old habits and wounds God desires to melt away, scrape off and lift before our transformation begins.

Transformation is exhausting, but there is hope.

Paul reminds us,

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NIV

Day by day, little by little if we wait on the Lord and soak up His presence, our many layers will melt away - old habits, poor choices, heart wounds - until we stand bare and vulnerable.  That's when we're most responsive; that's when following His footsteps becomes easier.  Our stride catches God's graceful rhythm and through His transforming power, we find ourselves fully clothed in His beauty.

How do we wait in the midst of doing?

• Set aside a specific time and space just for God every day (even lock yourself in the bathroom if you must)
• Read the Bible and ask God for wisdom and understanding as you read
• Pray (speak your heart honestly - you can't frighten God)
• Listen for God's whisper
• Surrender old habits and heart wounds to God and let Him melt and scrape and peel
  

Lord, help us to believe that there is beauty and purpose and potential underneath all our layers.  Help us hang onto the hope that what You began in us You will complete.  Grant us the opportunity, the time and the willingness to wait in Your presence and allow You to peel and scrape away at every layer that hinders us from becoming all You intended us to be.  Strip our hearts bare, Lord and transform us.  Clothe us in Your beauty and help us to understand our full potential through the power and name of Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.