The Way up is down.
A blank slate. A white canvas. “Here are my parameters God,” I said. “A wall here. A tower there. A fort for You.” I drew in the lines on my plans, hoping He would fill in the colors.
I put the walls up, brick by brick. I poured the cement. Two years of blood, sweat and tears came and went. I built it my way, and I felt satisfied.
I moved in. I filled my halls with furniture and decked out the rooms. I tried to make a home. I realized my Lord was still outside, so I invited Him in.
But that wasn’t enough…
I finally gave Him ownership of my palace. I thought He would be pleased with my work. After all, I poured my heart and soul into these walls, and now I was using this place for Kingdom purposes.
I handed Him the deed, but I still lacked satisfaction. The walls stood firm, but I was broken inside.
Deed in hand, He knocked the first wall down. He didn’t even flinch.
Like Jericho, He marched around seven times, blew His trumpet, and they fell with a crash. Because these walls were paper. Made of nothing of substance. Blown down by the wind…
My efforts fell with them.
The Way up is down.
I tried to patch these walls. I even switched out the pennants flying above them. I exchanged my colors for the colors of my King, but it wasn’t enough. He still wanted the whole fort.
The Way up is down.
So my King blew on my walls. I ran around like some crazy person with scotch tape. A piece here, a piece there… until my King said, “Left them fall.”
The Way up is down.
All my plans, the ones I made and asked God to bless? They are being swept away, knocked down, and I am hollowed out.
Until all that’s left is a pile of dust and my King.
We sit in the rubble. Where to go from here?
I finally ask Him, “What can I do for you?” He smiles and says, “Let Me rebuild it My Way.”
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Psalm 118:22-23

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