Upheaval.

Not the most wonderful of experiences or sensations. Whether it’s the upheaval of our situations or our perspectives, the world around us seems to be shifting and moving.

Sometimes the upheaval we are part of is secondary. Coming into a situation where we know the results of our actions or decisions will involve some sort of turmoil for another person. This might be in our work, our ministry, or our relationships.

We stand at the edge of an experience and know that our next step will mean turmoil at worst, upheaval at best.

I’m in the middle of this experience right now. Knowing that what I’ve been asked to do will mean a difficult situation for another person. And it’s tricky. It’s tricky because even though I know that what I’m doing is right and good and God-discerned, it still means there might be a mess to clean up for another person.

It’s unsettling. It’s unsettling because when we do what God asks of us, when we make the decision that we believe reflects his kingdom in the world and his heart, there shouldn’t be turmoil. Right?

Not always.

Into this head and heart space God gave me the image of Jesus turning over the tables in the temple (John 2: 13-17). Usually this image brings to our attention righteousness and justice, which it should.

But this time, Jesus placed this question within me.

“What about the people who had to clean up the tables?”

I’ve never thought of this before. Into the image of this story I began to see those who cared for the temple looking out over the courtyard. Debris and fluttering and chaos settling around them.

What would they have thought as they were called to clean up?

Would they have agreed with Jesus’s actions? Would they have been glad that something was finally done?

Would they have ducked their heads to stay out of trouble and just did the work?

Would they have been resentful that the movement of God meant they needed to step into the mess?

God sometimes calls us into situations where we need to get our hands dirty. Where the relationships are messy, justice seems complicated, and we know that we cannot just walk away and still be a part of what Christ is doing.

When God turns the tables, it can get messy.

Jesus isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty. And if we are the hands and feet of Christ, we shouldn’t be afraid of dirty hands, either.

Loving each other is hard work. The difficult things in the world mean that the Kingdom of God doesn’t always slip upon us like dipping into warm water. The Kingdom of God burns through with holy fire and sits within the whisper. We don’t always know what we’re going to get as we move through what God asks of us.

As Jesus followers, sometimes we are called in to turn tables.

Sometimes we clean up the spaces that have been overturned.

Jesus wasn’t just showing us that it was ok to be angry. He was showing us that upheaval can be holy when he instigates.

Righteousness is always good but often messy. Wounds are exposed, systems brought into better alignment, and the cracks and dust show as the light shines through.

There is love and grace and opportunity both in turning tables and in the after-work. Both are hard, both are necessary.

What I’m learning through this experience is to not be afraid. Don’t be afraid of moving forward in God-ordained justice. Don’t be afraid to come in and help rebuild the situations and relationships to better reflect this Kingdom that Christ inaugurated for us. Both are good and holy work.

And don’t be afraid that Jesus will leave you there with a mess and no way out. There is hope and healing and restoration, new vision and insight into those tumultuous places. His power and equipping helps us in any and every situation, because that’s who he is and who he’s said we are through him.

This is an opportunity. An opportunity to love others more and to learn more of God’s heart. He is the peace bringer and chaos tamer. Sometimes he turns and churns our situations, but always, always for our good. His peace is beautiful, and so is his righteous chaos. Both are holy, both are stretching, both bring life.

Don’t fear, have courage, be willing, get dirty.