Building Up Sometimes Means Digging Down

New England home portrait, watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper

I finished some home portrait commissions recently. It got me thinking about how good things are often built slowly and how grateful I feel to be able to make art and make it my focus. That encouraged to spread that thankfulness to someone. So if you were waiting for a sign, maybe this is it: Work on that painting, start that book, begin that workout plan, take on that new opportunity!

Will everything work out the way you think? Nope! Will everything fail the way you fear? Nope! The truth is, it’ll be a process like anything else. We like instant. Instant deliveries, instant meals- trust me, I love my instant pot, I’m right there with you. However, staying the course on a few things, instead of taking on too many projects because we expect everything to be instant, will help us fight the frustration when the “instant” is impossible. As Richard Foster wrote in the book “Celebration of Discipline” (you can read the whole thing there, I highly recommend it!):

“Most people find it virtually impossible to go through an entire day focusing on a single thing.
We are the lesser for this dissipation of our energies.”

Because I was painting homes and buildings the last two weeks, I thought about them a lot. Houses aren’t built from the roof down, they are built from the foundation up. Often the builders will need to dig below the ground level to set the foundation correctly. Which means in order to build a home, you start by digging a big hole. It got me smiling because of course the builders don’t stop with the hole and think they failed. That would be ridiculous, they know what is ahead. The builders know the hole is the perfect beginning for the solid foundation they need to build the house. As Solomon, “the wisest man who ever lived”, reminds us “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

Perhaps instead of feeling frustrated that we have a big hole, we remember why we started in the first place. When we are frustrated, it can be important to remember what the point is. Often, that remembering process then points us God’s call to that particular area of our lives. Remembering His call- and I mean really remembering it- what you were doing when you were stirred to start, what inspired you or who spoke those encouraging words to you. Meditating on those things will often fill us with that initial joy and peace He gave us.

So, friend, here is the final thought: if you started something and you find yourself in a giant hole, don’t give up. Keep your eyes on the Lord and seek the next step. Building a solid foundation can’t be rushed. Give yourself a little grace because there are no “instant houses” and your dream is not any different. Don’t give up. Digging a hole doesn’t mean you are going to end up in a hole, sometimes digging a hole means you’re just starting to lay the proper foundation.

Keep building!