From Bugs to Blessings: Finding Hope in Our Struggles

I have a strong aversion to bugs. While I recognize that they are part of God’s creation and serve a purpose, my dislike for them remains. It often feels as though they harbor a similar disdain for me—particularly for my windshield. Despite my efforts to wash, clean, scrub, and polish my car, within just a few miles of travel, I find that my vehicle is once again splattered with bugs.

In many ways, I liken bugs to sin. I see myself as the vehicle, with Jesus as my driver. He cleanses me, forgives me, and makes me "whiter than snow," as described in Psalm 51:7: "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Hyssop, a small bushy plant related to mint, was used in purification rituals in biblical times.

No matter what cleaning methods I employ, bugs inevitably find their way onto my car, leaving behind unsightly smears. Similarly, sin can disrupt the lives of Christians, tarnishing the purity of our redeemed selves. As a believer, it is crucial to remember that, although I am still a sinner, I am a work in progress. I am not yet perfect or sinless, but I am a redeemed and forgiven follower of Jesus Christ. While I continue to grapple with sin and make mistakes, I must never lose hope.

As Solomon wisely advises, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:23-27). In simpler terms, we should strive to keep the "bugs" off the windshield of our lives—or at least make a concerted effort to do so.