I’m working on a construction project right now. As these things go, expected weeks of paperwork and approvals turn into months. Finally, we get the go ahead to start clearing the land. I called up the site guys, and said, “let’s go, let’s get the site ready.”

It’s amazing how when places sit vacant for so long, they become familiar and comfortable, and for many it’s hard to imagine (or even accept) that they can and should be so much more.

Clearing day finally arrived, a day we waited seven months for. Within hours, the site was transformed. What was a beautiful, open space dusted in bright, clean, white snow, literally became an ideal location for a mud festival. Some see dirt, and a mess… dreamers see what could, what ought to be. See, you don’t get to what could be without getting a bit dirty. You don’t get there accepting the status quo. And you definitely can not get there unless you are willing to disturb some things.

As the site guys were minding their business doing their work, a car comes by, and the driver puts down his window, shouting expletives at them and saying: “we don’t want you here”. They weren’t happy that what they had become familiar with was being disturbed.

It got me thinking…

The enemy wants to stop us before we get started. He wants to tell us we aren’t wanted or welcome or (worse of all) worthy to walk in the the promises of God. I think he’s a bit concerned when we start to dream of how we can engage and participate in kingdom work. But I know he’s terrified when we pick up a shovel, and start making way for dreams and visions to become a reality.

A vision already in motion is a hard thing to stop.

So he has to cut us off at the pass. To stop us before we get started.

We tend to look at the landscape of our lives, and appreciate its current beauty. We live in fear of disturbing what is good, and familiar and safe for what could be. 

The enemy doesn’t want us working with the Master Builder. He does not want us allowing the Chief Cornerstone to be placed in our foundation. And he definitely does not want us invading the dark places, disturbing them and bringing the Gospel hope to ravished streets and ruined walls.

But the thing is, he doesn’t get to decide.
God has already issued the construction permit in our lives. WE have the go ahead to join him in restoring broken places and people. And He is inviting us to open our hearts to clearing and tearing down what needs to go and constructing us into what we were always meant to be.

The redemption plan was drawn up long before time began.

We each have a calling, a destiny. A place in the great story.
And in the times and places the enemy shouts or whispers “You’re not wanted here” those are the exact times we need to act and the exact places that we know we are meant to run towards.

The beautiful thing is we don’t need to figure it all out:

Isaiah 42:16 says:

“And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
    and I do not forsake them.” (ESV)

And the Message says it this way:

“But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way,
    who can’t see where they’re going.
I’ll be a personal guide to them,
    directing them through unknown country.
I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take,
    make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.
These are the things I’ll be doing for them—
    sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.”

So when someone shouts “you’re not wanted here” and it’s got you doubting what has already been stirring. Grab your shovel and get clearing! Something amazing is waiting to be built!