Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

There’s something mesmerizing about Love It or List It. Watching the back-and-forth between homeowners, the dramatic renovations, and the jaw-dropping reveals keeps us glued to the screen. But what always amazes us is when, after seeing stunning new homes, a family still chooses to stay in the place they were ready to leave. Time and again, they “love it” instead of “list it,” despite once feeling their home was unbearable.

How often do we do the same thing in our own lives? We settle for brokenness when God offers healing, remain in bitterness when He calls us to forgiveness, and cling to familiar ashes when He is ready to exchange them for beauty (Isaiah 61:3). Like those homeowners, we get caught up in old frustrations and fears, believing nothing better exists—when all along, God is offering us something far greater.

David’s Love-It Mentality in the Ashes

One of the most profound biblical examples of this mindset is King David. After his grave sin with Bathsheba—committing adultery and orchestrating her husband’s death (2 Samuel 11)—David faced the crushing consequences. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, he repented deeply (Psalm 51), but the child born from their affair became ill and died despite David’s desperate prayers (2 Samuel 12:15-18).

In the year that followed, David continued to live in the ashes of his choices. Although he physically moved forward, spiritually, he was anything but thriving. He had to carry the weight of knowing he had not only sinned against God but also wrecked lives in the process. And even when God, in His mercy, gave David and Bathsheba another son, Solomon—the very one through whom Jesus’ lineage would come (Matthew 1:6)—David still struggled.

Instead of moving into the newness of God’s grace, David sat in regret. It took time before he could fully embrace God’s redemption and move from mourning into joy. Like homeowners reluctant to list their houses, David hesitated to fully surrender his past to God’s transformative power.

Trading Our Ashes for God’s Beauty

Many of us live in similar ways. We stay in broken places because they are familiar. We hold on to wounds because healing feels uncertain. We resist change because we fear the unknown. Yet God is in the business of restoration.

Take Ruth, for example. After losing her husband, she could have settled into a life of sorrow in Moab. Instead, she took a leap of faith, following Naomi to Bethlehem, where God blessed her with a new life and legacy through Boaz (Ruth 4:13-17). She didn’t settle in the ashes; she stepped into the beauty God had for her.

Or consider Peter. After denying Jesus three times (Luke 22:61-62), he was devastated. He could have let his failure define him, but when Jesus restored him (John 21:15-17), Peter embraced his calling and became a pillar of the early church.

Are We Holding On to the Old?

Sometimes, God is nudging us to “list it”—to let go of the past, toxic relationships, unhealthy mindsets, or dead dreams. But too often, we stubbornly “love it,” holding onto what no longer serves us.

Are we living in the ashes when God is offering beauty? Are we clinging to the old when He is calling us to the new (Isaiah 43:18-19)? Are we, like David, holding onto regret instead of stepping into redemption?

The truth is, when God renovates, He doesn’t just do surface-level repairs. He transforms from the inside out. And when we truly trust Him, we will never want to settle for less than His best. I hope this speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!