Why the Things You’ve Defeated Still Show Up
Every morning… there they are again.
Those clumsy little beetles. I sweep them off the porch, brush them away—and by the next day? Twenty more show up like they own the place.
If you’re anything like me, the first thought is:
“Seriously, Lord? Can’t I just have a clean porch for once? Why do these annoying things keep coming back?”
But as I stood there (again) with my broom, God whispered something to my heart:
Sometimes, the things that annoy us the most are just signs of battles we’ve already won.
1️⃣ Some things come back because we haven’t fully released them.
We sweep. We swat. We try to ignore.
But maybe the real invitation isn’t to get rid of them—it’s to finally face them.
Those beetles might be like:
• That little fear that sneaks back in even though you know God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear.
• The old insecurity that whispers you’re not enough, even after all the growth you’ve had.
• The tiny frustrations that test your patience—not because they matter, but because they show how far you’ve come.
Sometimes, God lets those “beetles” keep showing up so we’ll pause and ask:
“Is this something I still need to work through? Or am I just learning to not let it shake me anymore?”
2️⃣ What’s powerless can still feel threatening.
Most of those beetles? They’re upside down and already defeated.
They look gross. They make us uncomfortable. But they can’t actually hurt us.
It’s just like life’s old battles—the enemy has already lost. Jesus said, “It is finished.”
But sometimes, the old habits, the old triggers, the old memories still try to catch our eye.
They can only overpower you if you let them.
3️⃣ Persistence works both ways.
Yes, those beetles are persistent.
But you know what’s even more persistent?
• Grace.
• Growth.
• God’s love drawing you closer every day.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
4️⃣ Even the icky things are teaching you authority.
Every time you sweep them away, you’re not just cleaning—you’re taking spiritual authority.
You’re saying:
“Not today. You might show up, but you won’t stay.”
It’s not about avoiding messes. It’s about learning perseverance.
Every sweep of the broom is a quiet declaration:
“I’m still standing. I’m still growing. I still believe.”
5️⃣ God speaks—even through the annoying things.
He doesn’t just speak through the beautiful or the big moments.
Sometimes, He teaches us in the mundane, the repetitive, and yes—even the gross.
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise.” (Proverbs 6:6)
If He can use ants to teach wisdom, He can definitely use beetles to teach persistence and growth.
So next time you grab that broom?
Smile.
Not because you love the bugs. But because you can see what they really are:
A reminder that even the little annoyances are part of God’s bigger plan to strengthen you.
He’s using everything—even the bugs—to craft your story.
And if you’ve ever wanted a space where you can process these kinds of everyday lessons, grow in faith, and create with purpose—we’ve built that place.
It’s called DreamMakers. 💖
Inside, we talk about the real stuff like this all the time while making beautiful things together.
If your heart whispered “yes” reading this, I’d love for you to join us.
Come see what it’s all about…