Can we build a Fort

Two of my grandkids came over yesterday after work, full of energy and asked the one question I couldn’t say no to:

“Can we build a fort?”

They had a plan pull out all the chairs, cushions from the couch, and every blanket they could find. We started building it together, piece by piece, tucking pillows into all the corners and making sure the blankets didn’t slide off. Before long, the room had transformed into a soft, cozy little fort.

Once it was finished, they crawled inside with their drinks, toys, books, and snacks. They were completely at home in that little space. They didn’t need anything fancy. They just wanted to have fun together in the fort we created. It wasn’t about anything big or impressive. It was just about the joy of the moment and the fun of being inside their world of imagination.

As they played, they asked me for refills on their drinks, more snacks, or new toys to bring in. They were having a great time, completely comfortable in their little fort. There was no rush or pressure, just the joy of being together and having fun.

As I watched them playing, the thought suddenly came to my mind, a soft whisper from God I felt. It was as if He was saying, “Faith, this is what I want from you. Come. Just come and be with Me. Enjoy My presence the way they are enjoying this moment together.”

You don’t need to have everything in order. The setting doesn’t have to be just right or perfectly arranged before you come into My presence. He just wants me to come, to be with Him and enjoy time with Him the way my grandkids enjoyed being in that little homemade fort. Not because it was perfect, but because it was ours. Because it was safe to them, filled with laughter and togetherness.

That’s what God offers us, a place with Him. A place where we can stop trying so hard a place where we can breathe. A place where we are wanted not for what we can do, but simply because we are His.

See, God’s invitation to us is simple. We don’t have to overcomplicate it. He says, “Come to Me and enjoy My presence.” We don’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be the right space, the perfect building, dressed just right, or with everything in order. We just need to show up just like my grandkids did with their excitement and energy. They didn’t come for anything complicated. They came to have fun in the space we created.

And then, after all the laughter and snacks and crawling around in the fort, it was time for them to go home. The kids went back to their parents, and I was left with the aftermath blankets everywhere, cushions out of place, crumbs on the carpet, toys scattered across the room and a drink that had spilit on the carpet.

As I cleaned it all up, I smiled. The mess was evidence of something beautiful, of time well spent, of love poured out, of joy shared. And again, I sensed God whispering,“Even your mess is welcome with Me. You don’t have to clean it all up. I will take care of it.”

That’s the heart of God. Not only does He invite us into His presence when we’re a mess; He’s the one who lovingly, patiently, and even joyfully cleans up after us. Not because He has to, but because He wants to. Because our mess means we’ve been with Him.

The Bible says in Psalm 103:13-14, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”