Spiritual Makeover by Carolyn Quick Tillery

I met Carolyn last winter through Facebook–an amazing woman and author with a big heart for the military spouse. She is the USCENTCOM Personal & Family Readiness Program Director. Thank you Carolyn, for letting me share your Makeover Journey!

“…For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jermiah 29:11 NIV)

Recently, I planned to redecorate a bedroom in my northern Florida home, which was looking “well loved” and worn. I’d overlooked its shabby appearance for some time because the Carthage by Croscill pattern in which it was decorated, which I loved, had recently been retired and was no longer available for sale. However, finally, with some prodding from family members, even I could no longer overlook the outdated window treatments, or the worn, flattened comforter. It was time for a makeover… However, I was reluctant to give up what I knew and loved even though it no longer presented well, without knowing whether I could find something that I liked quite as well. And I searched for something similar to no avail. In addition, I was on a tight budget. What a dilemma. Those who know me know I sought to resolve my dilemma at my favorite retailers –local thrift stores. For weeks I looked and either could not find what I wanted or what I found was not a good value for the dollar.
Disappointed, I began with the window treatments, in hopes that the issue of the comforter would resolve itself. Removing the floor length sheers to better expose the 2-inch wood blinds, I left the Carthage toppers and updated the look by asymmetrically draping a sheer scarf on the pole tops. Stepping back to observe my creation, I pronounced it good, but not quite good enough because the color of the sheers was off just a smidge. As a result, I was not totally satisfied until a few days later when I walked into a thrift shop and found the perfect comforter,. It was new without tags (NWT) It coordinated perfectly with the color of the scarves, which I earlier complained were off just a tad and would not have selected if I had other available options. The Turkish pattern coordinated perfectly with the tweed texture and color of the drapes. Every color was a perfect match. Not Paprika red to a ruby or garnet… no, this was paprika to paprika, slate blue to slate blue, burnished gold to burnished gold. It coordinated perfectly.
Through this experience I was reminded that God, makes over or conforms us to the image of Christ. He who sees the end from the beginning, is coordinating our lives to His transforming Word, perfect will and purpose for our lives. As a result, he uses trials to remove from us that which prevents us from presenting the image in which we were created. Often we are presented options we would not choose for ourselves and do not fully appreciate until we see the next “decorator item” and how perfectly it fits in the overall pattern of our lives. But it is not until we see the final outcome that we appreciate God’s earlier work in our lives because, unlike God, we view the master’s work in segments. – that which is presently before us, while God, who knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb and is constantly working for our good, sees far into the future. Had I seen the comforter from the beginning, I would not have fretted and worried so about letting go of the old comforter or matching and coordinating the new colors. Such is our faith walk with God, who sees the end from the beginning. Fear of the unknown prevents us from moving beyond our comfort zone to the hope and the future that God has for us. Faith is the bridge that takes us confidently and courageously from what we don’t know to that which God knew and planned for us from the very beginning!

Where is God working in your life? What pieces of your spiritual bedroom has he replaced that might not make sense to you? Have you gotten a surprise “match” that made everything more clear? Share YOUR story below!



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