I remember a story from years ago when some refugees from Vietnam relocated to our area. A middle-aged couple, who spoke no English, had nothing in the house to eat and decided to take the few dollars they had and go to the store. They had to spend their precious little resources wisely but could not read the labels on the packages. They needed something large enough for the both of them and something that would be good to eat.

After much pondering, the couple decided to purchase a large, round can with the picture of delicious-looking fried chicken on it. Pleased that they found something they recognized, they cheerfully took their meal home. Disappointment quickly swept over them as they stared at a white, sticky paste instead of their desired chicken. They had expected the picture on the can to represent what was inside and they did not understand the word across the label; Crisco.

Often people wear the label of Christian and work to give a picture of what they think God wants, but inside there is a sticky mess. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” I Samuel 16:7. You may deceive people but the Lord sees what is inside and knows what to do with it. There is nothing wrong with Crisco if you want Crisco. There is if you need chicken. No matter what your inside looks like, the Lord knows how to create something beautiful. Let Him make you everything He wants you to be.

Do you hide what is going on in your life because it is not a pretty picture? How do you give it to God and trust Him to make it good?