“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us:
and establish thou the work of our hands upon us;
yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:17
Remodeling is fun in the planning stages when we’re dreaming about fixing up a space. It sparks expectations, excitement and energy. Then, the remodeling process begins and chaos ignites! On top of our regular everyday work, a new things-to-do list is added. Stuff that is in the way has to be packed up and other things have to be removed, repaired or replaced. As dust, materials, and noise fill the space, routines and budgets get upended. Soon, order vacates the premises. We tell ourselves its temporary and we can deal with the short-term displacement. We work around the remodeling and then realize the chaos has spread to other areas of our home and has overtaken our hearts. That’s when I wonder, “How do I rein this remodeling back in?”
Evaluate Priorities
When we find ourselves discouraged in the middle of remodeling dysfunction and disorder, we have to stop and consider the season we’re in and reevaluate our priorities. If a “weekend” project turns into a month of long weekend projects, trouble is brewing. Delays are depleting. Not only does it strain our physical and mental energy, it can strain budgets and relationships as well.
Expect the Unexpected
Most of us expect disruptions with a remodel. It’s when projects exceed our expectations that we struggle to keep up. Reality says remodeling takes longer, costs more and requires buckets of paint and patience.
YouTube videos make remodeling look easy. When someone appears to remodel a room in a thirty minute video, followed by remarkable “before and after” pics, we feel like we can pull it off too. However, there’s a big difference between real time and time-edited makeovers. Real life is full of surprises and set-backs. Count on it.
Establish a Remodeling Routine
At our house, once chaos starts, there’s a tendency to follow the chaotic trend. A few things get out of order and we let other things pile up. Before we know it, we can’t function in the dysfunction. This is when we have to stop to reorganize and regroup. When we set a healthy routine and keep our lives in balance, we are far more productive.
Ease Up on the Stress
Remodeling can be stressful. When deadlines pass by and funds run low, excitement and energy diminish. I know this first hand because I’ve been living in a remodeling zone for about 28 years. I can’t go into all the reasons why we’ve been remodeling so long but, suffice it to say, it has had a lot to do with:
- life changes
- tough challenges
- limited funds
- unforeseen circumstances
- poor planning
It’s been a long dusty road. To relieve the stress, we’ve had to:
- Seek God’s guidance
- Adjust our plans
- Reset our budgets
We keep moving forward while asking for wisdom to correct our mistakes and finish the work before us. God always establishes us where he wants us, and right now, it’s here remodeling our hearts and home one room at a time.
“ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us,
and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Bring It Home
Are you involved in remodeling right now? How are you handling the work?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
What a project, Beth. Amazing details to work through. I’ve never experienced a remodel. Moving from one house to another has been tough enough. But I can appreciate the process and hope it will go well.
It is a distinct process for sure Karen. In my experience, remodeling is a lot like moving while staying in place.
You pack and unpack your things and constantly rearrange your furniture to accomplish the next task.
I feel at home but not quite settled. Though I’m used to it, I don’t recommend it long term. ?
?Smiles, BRC