The Manicure and the Message

*** I originally wrote this on March 29, 2015 for another blog and thought I would share it here as well.***

This blog post explains a process endured. Rock with me to the end and I promise it will all make sense. I love to polish my nails.  I enjoy looking at colorful shades on my nails. The right nail polish can add flavor to my overall look. Sometimes, when I am patient creative enough, I like to attempt to do designs on my manicure. Painting nails can be a process. First, you have to choose a color. When deciding on your color you have to consider a few things:

• Will this color look good with my outfit?
• How many days do I anticipate on wearing this particular color?
• Which brand of polish should I use depending on whether I want a long-lasting manicure (5+ days) or a quick one (1 to 5 days)?
• Do I just want one plain color or do I want to add several for a design? If I start out with a plain manicure do I want to add designs later on?
• Is this particular color appropriate for the places I'll go wearing it (i.e. a job interview)?

After you have selected your color and considered all of the questions above, you have to shape and clean your nails. You cannot just quickly slap some polish on your nails. That would not look presentable. All of your nails should be filed smooth and into a neat shape (i.e. square, squarely rounded, rounded, oval, almond)...squarely rounded is my personal favorite. Once you have shaped and cleaned your nails, you have to use a base coat to protect the surface of your nails. Some brands of base coat is rubber-like to help grip the color for a longer lasting manicure. Once the base coat dries, you may now polish your nails the particular color you wanted. To get a rich opaqueness, you might have to use two to three coats of your chosen color. Finally, to seal in all of the hard work, you must add a top coat.

That is a lot of polish on your nails. Thus, you cannot be in a hurry when going through this process. When your nails are drying you are in a state where you are just sitting still. You might have a lot of plans running through your mind. For example, as you are sitting and waiting you might be thinking that you have to do your laundry, those snacks in the kitchen look delicious and I want a bite, I forgot to blah blah blah. It is during this time that you cannot take your mind off of the process you are going through. If you do not sit still and try to act before your nails are dry, you will ruin your manicure. All of the hard work you endured went to waste because you could not be patient and wait for your nails to completely dry. Even though I love the pretty end result, I must admit waiting for my nails to dry is the least favorite part for me.

Last night, I painted my nails and as I was screwing the brush back onto my top coat, I thought out loud, "Here is the difficult part...waiting for these nails to dry." It was then when the Holy Ghost spoke to me. He said that painting my nails is just like your Christian walk. God may be leading you through a process. Each process has a step that must be completed to get to the end goal. Each step must be completed at an appointed time. You cannot do the steps out of order. Filing your nails is like how God molds and shapes us. When you were out in the world, you did was was pleasing to your flesh. Now that you are a new creature you cannot look like the raggedy, uneven, chipped nail you used to look like.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 Galatians 5:16-17 (KJV) - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

While God is shaping us, the process might not always feel pleasurable or convenient. The plans you personally had for your life might not be God's will for your life. As Christians, we have to be submissive enough to God to allow Him to have His way any way He wants. While you might be desiring to be an almond-shaped nail, God might want to you look round. You might have to surrender your career goals, friendships, desired place to live, etc. Whatever God wants you to be, do it for His glory.

Isaiah 45:9-11 (KJV) - Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) -  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

After you have been filed into this newly created shape you go through the polish process. Again, each step has a proper order. You cannot do the color first and then the base coat. Your manicure will not last because it is the base coat that protects your nail and grips the color. Without the gripping, your polish will chip off prematurely. If you want your manicure to endure to the end, you must do the base coat first, then the color, and finally the top coat.

1 Corinthians 14:33, 40 (KJV) - ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.

Psalm 37:23 (KJV) -  The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Once you have painted on the base coat, color, and top coat, you have to wait before you can go onto other tasks. As I stated earlier, if you do not patiently go through the process you will ruin your manicure. All the things done were in vain because moving before it is time will smudge the polish. Having learned this lesson, I do my best to past this test. If you keep failing this test, you will have to repeat the process over and over again until you learn to be patient. God might have some delicious cold mandarin oranges or grapes for you to eat in the kitchen. However, you have to wait until He is ready to present the snacks to you. Nail polish does not taste good!

In the book of Genesis, Abraham and Sarah were promised a son at an old age. They waited and waited for this son. Thinking that they could "help God" with the process, they arraigned for Hagar to assist them and thus Ismael was born. However, Ismael was not the promised son. God clearly stated that the promised son would be conceived from Abraham and Sarah--not Hagar. Now Sarah started to feel some type a way about Hagar and wanted her and her son to go kick rocks...chuck the deuces...leave. Then, Abraham and Sarah had to start the process all over again. They did and thus, Issac was born. Issac was the completed pretty manicure.

When God is leading us, sometimes things will not make sense. However, we have to rest and sit still and trust Him. Once you wait on God and He brings to pass the finished results you will be so glad you did. Doing things God's way and in His order is better than trying to do things our way. Our way will result in a mess every time.

Isaiah 55:8 (KJV) - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

 Philippians 4:6 (KJV) - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Waiting is worth it. Your process has a purpose. God will give you strength to wait. He will send the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. He is with you and will not forsake you. Getting to the end is the glory. Give God the glory by enduring the process.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV) -  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Romans 8:28 (KJV) - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.