A Hot Mess' Plea for Deliverance

Sh*t happens.

When you find yourself stuck in a messy situation, leaving you with no other options but to pray, then one can only say, Hallelujah! For this will surely be one of those moments where you’re given the opportunity to gain wisdom, growth, and an unforgettable memory you would never hope to miss.

And that is exactly what I’ve experienced one afternoon while I was driving home with my family. Just right after passing through the mall’s parking exit, I felt a strong resentment from my now bloated stomach. I remember it was already trying to get my attention before we even decided to leave. But I brushed it off, thinking it could wait. Now I must pay the price of neglecting my tummy’s well-being. The experience was hellish to the point of really calling out to God for deliverance from this ordeal. Just think about what suffering you must endure when you’re dying to release that mess but you’re still 30 minutes away from your salvation.

In my head, I laid out my options and considered the pros and cons for each.

Option #1: Turn around, go back to the mall and go to the nearest restroom

Pros: instant liberation! hurray!

Cons: hassle to go back and look for parking again; risk of toilet flush not working; the explosion and miasma from the mutiny happening inside your stomach will require a high level of courage to face the mortification from this predicament

Option #2: Try to endure as much as you can but risk making a mess out of yourself along the way when you finally realize you don’t have what it takes to overcome this ordeal

Pros: you get a shot in the endurance test - you get 1 pt. for at least trying

Cons: horror stories that your family will relive whenever anyone decided to take a trip back to memory lane; a big mess in your car seat; and a constant reminder of the oh so great battle that you were just not strong enough to overcome

Option #3: Endure, exercise self-control, increase your faith in God, and wait for your sweet salvation

Pros: you get a level-up badge in character, self-control, endurance, and faith in God

Cons: prolonged agony and pain

And I chose the road less traveled.

True enough, moments like this really do give you valuable insights. After the whole ordeal, I felt as if I emerged as a new creation – one that is wiser and stronger. 😊

So I’d like to share some of the insights I’ve gained from this experience:

Choose your battles wisely. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to mess with an upset stomach. I also came to realize how self-conscious most of us are. We are so afraid to let others know how huge of a mess we are, that we become so obsessed in painting a perfect façade, not realizing that you’re already turning into an empty shell. But there’s someone who knows everything about us – even our life’s messes that we desperately try to hide. His great love for us cannot be changed or reduced by the multitude of wrongs in our lives. So, when we decide to humble ourselves, acknowledge our faults, and turn to Him in complete surrender, He then fights our battles with us and for us.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

When called to act, ACT! Don’t delay. When there’s an issue that is within your power to control or solve, see to it right away. Sometimes, delaying what needs to be confronted blows out of proportion and turns into a huge pain in the ass. (or stomach😄)

“Most of the problems in life are because of two reasons: we act without thinking or we keep thinking without acting.” – Anonymous

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln

God’s Salvation is available 24/7. No queues. No waiting lists. In the way I lived my life, I realized I also opted for the third option. When I saw myself already at critical breaking point, it dawned on me that I was desperately enduring for far too long on my own. Each day only brings me thoughts about the meaninglessness of life. And when you’re in this state of mind, how can you even hope and look forward to waking up the next morning.

Thank God for He is faithful and that He’s not 30 minutes away – that there are no deadlines for submissions or applications, no cut-offs, no reservation fees, no queues or waiting lists. Instead, He patiently waits for us to call on Him. And when we do, He’s there waiting eagerly with arms wide open. I was a huge mess. But God’s saving grace delivered me from that seemingly inescapable hell. I still encounter troubles and challenges in life. I still make mistakes, still fall into temptations. But thanks to His unfailing grace, even though I still may stumble and fall, He’s there to make sure it’s only up to a point that is sure to make me grow.

And during the times when the memories of my once messy life appear to haunt me again, God is also faithful in reminding me that a pile of sh*t, transformed and added in the soil, absorbed by a simple seed, has the potential to produce something as beautiful as a gloriously blooming flower.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28

Tips for a stress-free (not mess-free) Poo-Time in public areas:

1. If you either have a feeble or defiant tummy, manage what you feed it. Otherwise, you’re sure to witness an uprising.

2. Always bring tissues or wet wipes. You’ll never know when a mutiny in your stomach may erupt.

3. Consider getting a Poo spray or toilet spray deodorizer if you’re conscious about the smell.

4. For extreme cases of stomach mutiny, bringing about the possibility of a very thunderous explosion and a lethal miasma, consider looking for a paid toilet that gives you the privacy and amenities that will aid you in managing the rebellion.

5. If Tip#4 is not a viable option, then just be done with it and chill! Those strangers won’t remember you anyway (hopefully 🤞). But if they do, then so what. It happens to everyone, right? There are other circumstances in your life that will be much more demanding and nerve-wracking. This one is just not worth stressing over.

6. Before you do anything else, ALWAYS make sure the toilet flush works!

Happy Poo Time! 💩