I Spilled My Pumpkin Juice on a Semi-White Carpet.

I made a mistake that cost me greatly. For the past few months, I can’t help but reflect on the “I should have… I could have done things differently.” This is one of the worst things I have ever done in my entire life, and the results are evident. I paid greatly for it.

While I can’t unpack the depth of what happened here, I will say this: the effect of that decision has cost me many things, and it is only by God’s grace that it did not cost me my life.

This is one of those situations where I could not blame anyone else or justify my reasons. The reality was too clear, it was my fault. I should have listened to the counsel of the Holy Spirit. He warned me that I would not like the outcome, but I thought it wouldn’t be that bad.

I was so wrong.

It is bad. Bad enough to break a soul.

Tonight, while reading a book, I felt hungry. I decided to grab some leftovers I had bought for lunch. As I waited for the food to finish warming in the microwave, I felt led to record an episode for my podcast about whether there is a difference between holiness and righteousness. (If you’d like to listen to that episode, you can find it under the podcast tab on this page.)

I grabbed my food, poured myself a cup of pumpkin juice, and went upstairs to sit on the bed beside my husband. And yes, we snack in bed too.

As I sat there eating, I suddenly remembered that heart-wrenching mistake I had made. My heart began to slowly break, my appetite vanished, and tears started rolling down my cheeks. My husband had no idea I was crying, he had just woken up from a nap.

While I wept in silence, I turned on worship music, hoping it would bring some comfort to this painful memory. I should mention that I had already prayed many times, asking God, “What’s next?” What was I supposed to do now that I had made such a life-altering decision? How do you fix something that feels impossible?

The Lord would often comfort me, reassuring me that everything would be okay, that in the end I would see that He is still the God who “gives beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3, KJV).

I got up to hide my tears from my husband because even if he knew the reason, there was nothing he could do to help.

I picked up my snack and juice and headed downstairs. And suddenly, the cup slipped out of my hand.

The pumpkin juice, thick, creamy, rich, spilled onto the carpet, the dresser, and even inside the drawers.

Oh great. Just wonderful.

This can’t be happening right now.

I actually said, “Really, God?” As if dealing with the weight of my past mistake wasn’t enough now pumpkin juice of all things on a semi-white carpet?

I wondered what my husband must be thinking. Probably questioning my clumsiness.

I went into the bathroom, took a deep breath, and stood there in silence. Even the tears disappeared. My emotions didn’t know which one to activate—anger, sadness, frustration, or just… whatever.

What a horrible ending to what was supposed to be a simple night: a snack, a little conversation, and then bed.

I whispered, “Lord, please help me get these stains out tonight.”

I grabbed a rag, stain remover, and started cleaning. It took a few minutes, but eventually I noticed something, the stain was gone. Completely gone. As if nothing had ever spilled.

And then I heard the Holy Spirit say, I purposely allowed this to happen to teach you an important lesson. Your situation is no different.

Yes, you made a mess, whether by mistake or by choice. You can’t undo what you’ve done. And every time you see the weight of it, it causes emotional distress, just like seeing that spill on the carpet felt overwhelming.

But when you asked Me for help, I heard you. And with patience and time, the stain disappeared.

Just like that stain, the Lord said, you will look back and see no more signs of your mistake.

You may remember it, but the scars will be healed. I will work things out in such a way that you will barely remember how it looked or how it felt while you were in the mess.

God can erase mistakes as though they never happened because “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, KJV).

Don’t be afraid to invite Jesus into your mess or your brokenness. That’s where He gets the glory. He said He did not come for the righteous, but for sinners (Matthew 9:13, KJV) not for those who think they are well, but for those who know they need a doctor (Mark 2:17, KJV).

Your life and your current suffering are not strange to God. He is able to use your mess and turn it into a message. Your test into a testimony.

I know it’s hard being in the valley, waiting, hoping for light, especially when you’ve been there for months or even years. Maybe your valley looks like sickness, debt, anxiety, family struggles, or something else entirely.

But remember this: “He restoreth my soul” (Psalm 23:3, KJV).

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, KJV).

After the Holy Spirit finished ministering to me, He said, I’ve told you this many times, but because you struggled to understand, I had to give you a practical demonstration.

Pumpkin juice on semi white carpet to teach and important lesson. Sometimes what you think is bad is actually God way of saying “come up higher” there is so much more to explore.

God is simply amazing.