Cracks running crooked,

crooked like life’s path.

Path to the unknown,

Unknown to me but not to God.

God can bring life out,

Out of the cracks.

Cracks that now lead somewhere,

Somewhere I couldn’t even imagine.

While I was walking this week I started to follow the cracks on the ground. “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” definitely still creeps in my mind. The interesting thing I realized is that the game tells us to avoid the sidewalk cracks but those cracks have purpose and can bring beauty even. Cracks are there as part of the design but they can also form due to the environment surrounding them including temperature fluctuations, soil erosion, root intrusions, and other actions going on around them. As I walked on I noticed that there were cracks that were skinny and not very disruptive to the path but then there were deeply cut cracks that you had to walk around to avoid tripping. Then I noticed an amazing thing (well maybe not to the house owner), there were cracks that literally had life growing out of it. To our eyes it’s weeds but it is life.

Of course my mind went to sidewalk crack metaphors for our lives. There are times we feel like we have to avoid the cracks. Other times we feel like we need to fill them in or fix them. When we see weeds coming out of cracks we immediately go to pull or spray weed killer so that it looks nice and neat. I think cracks in our lives serve a purpose and can be beautiful too. Our sidewalk cracks in life include anxious thoughts, depression, relationship struggles, sickness, financial problems, and so much more. While we see these problems as something to fix or cover up quickly like those weeds popping up on the sidewalk, God sees our cracks as ways to grow and make something beautiful in our lives. For God has plans for us all and at times that means having a few sidewalk cracks in our lives.

If you ever doubt that God has plans for you or that you don’t understand why things keep happening to you, don’t worry you are not alone. We have all felt that way, that includes people in the bible! Here are 3 verses to help you in those sidewalk crack moments:

1. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
2. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

God, I pray that the next time a sidewalk crack moment in my life comes along that I look to you first. I know that You are in control and that You have good, good plans for me. Thank you for loving me so much to plan out my life, cracks and all. Amen. 

–💜Fuel your faith. Build your foundation. Live it out. ✝️

A rhythm of reflection and real faith, one day, one post, one spark at a time.