“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” — C.S. Lewis
Do you ever get a restless feeling in your spirit? Like no matter how much you do, or what you accomplish, or how much you buy or earn, or how hard you try to get settled in a comfortable life that it just never satisfies for long?
I started my blog, The Inspired Room, in July of 2007 with the desire to share my approach to creating an authentic home. It wasn’t about creating a perfect home or buying all the trendy things to make a home beautiful, but about finding contentment in creating a home you love.
As much as I enjoy writing about the home (it’s one of the earthly passions I’m so grateful God gave me!) starting a blog wasn’t only about showing off simple decorating ideas. My blog was my humble and very personal offering to God. This gift was presented in a time when I felt I had very little to offer, yet out of gratitude I wanted to serve Him with what I had. In the quiet corners of my home in 2007, I gave everything I had with open hands to use as He pleased.
Recently my blog was voted Readers’ Favorite Decorating blog by Better Homes & Gardens. While it was quite an unexpected honor and of course very exciting for my business, I rejoice and embrace that honor with slight hesitation in my spirit. Because I know it’s not about me or my decorating worthiness. It isn’t because I have all the decorating solutions everyone needs. It’s all because of God and what He can accomplish even through my awkward human weakness, failures and fears. It’s about His faithfulness. All I really have is Him.
Creating a comfortable home for my family and using it to minister to those around us is important to me. I’m so grateful that God has used my humble offering of a home as a spring board for His purposes in so many ways, but I know that material things of this world will never fully satisfy on their own. We were made for so much more than this world has to offer.
As I reflect this week on the amazing sacrifice God made in offering His only son to cover all our sins as He died on that cross, this beautiful song has been speaking to me about the brokenness and restlessness we feel in this world that is not our home. We are truly only satisfied in Him.
As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you my God. Psalm 42.
– Melissa, The Inspired Room
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Hi Melissa, congrats on your blog’s award! That’s really great.
I totally feel that pull towards the other world as well. Sometimes I feel that the two worlds are so close, there’s really no separation between them… which I guess is the whole point from when God tore the veil in the temple from top to bottom after Jesus’ death. He got rid of the barriers between us and Him. I feel that closeness a lot. I long for my Father. Somehow He just seems like home to me, and everything else a dim substitute.
Thanks for sharing. Loved your post.
kerry says
Melissa- I am a domestically challenged mama of three small children and I “dream” of organizing and beautifying my home….constantly. I had been feeling like this was a pointless or mispent passion of mine since this life on earth is so fleeting…I have actually been feeling guilty about creatingin the home when I should be “serving” the poor or helping the world some other really tangible way. This thought process has crippled me in my home many times. I do not follow your blog but occasionally visit….but this morning during my quiet time with the Lord-He kept bringing your name to me…..so I smirked at Him when I opened up Incourage this morning to find you! I guess I take from this that perhaps pursuing a seemingly simple passion like homemaking is finding myself satisfied in him after all. 🙂
Hope says
I love this Kerry. I praise God for His very special touch on you today.
Melissa Michaels says
Hi Kerry! Ah! I love that God knows and loves His daughters so well that He gives us gifts and passions He can use when we offer them back to Him! 🙂 I’m always in awe of how God encourages us, too! Thanks for sharing!
Hope says
Oh restlessness is something I am familiar with. And I will try to get rid of it: I will exercise, or write or meet with a friend… until I realize He is the only One who will satisfy. Sometimes restlessness is an invitation to be with Him. Sometimes there isn’t any other meaning other than He wants to sit with me and He wants me to sit with HIm.
Glenda says
Thank you Melissa for your great words today and your great blog. I believe that GOD likes to “show off” His beloved daughters in lots of ways. Your winning the BHG Favorite Decorators Blog is no surprise to Him or to us who follow your blog. Your love of the LORD shines through in all that you do. You encourage us in more ways than just having “An Inspired Home”. On this GOOD Friday and every day, we have so much to look forward to, not only on Easter, but for eternity! Thank you and your beautiful family for sharing your wonderful ideas and your great witness to the One who holds everything. HE LIVES!
betsydecruz says
What a lovely commentary on finding your satisfaction in God. I needed to read this today. How wonderful also that you are using your talents and passions to bring glory to your Father. Congratulations on your award. I can’t wait to visit your blog.
Melissa Michaels says
Thank you Betsy, it’s an honor to serve him with what I have!
Mae says
Melissa, Well done!! decorating a home is so special. However, you took more steps which brought joy!! I’m at a standstill: I needed your encouragement
today. Thank you!
Mae says
Melissa, Inspired Room is amazing!
It is where my heart had taken residence;
I had a dream which God inspired, I had a lovely home. I wrote a novel. Then, in 2011, economy drop, broke my heart.
it broke my spirit as well, where was I to go? Apartments are a place to rebuilt, to recover, to begin again. But, what I also discovered is I had to find my heart again,
I had to decorate my life with the creativity I’v always known, one’s own home is a reflection of a Wonen’s Own Heart! I’v begun again knowing it’s at the heart of women where Jesus takes our creativity one step further to recognize He is the One!