Sip Happens, Part 4: Messy Desk, Clear Mind

If you ever peeked at my desk, you might think I’ve got a thousand things going on, and you’d be right. A notebook half-open, sticky notes stuck to other sticky notes, yesterday’s coffee cup sitting next to today’s. To the outside world, it probably looks like clutter. But for me, it’s controlled chaos.

And here’s the funny thing. I’ve learned that a messy desk doesn’t mean a messy spirit. Sometimes the papers are scattered, but my focus is sharp. Sometimes the to-do list is overflowing, but my heart is steady. God doesn’t need a spotless desk to do His work. He just needs a willing spirit.

Messy journalist's desk

It’s the same lesson I learned years ago when Life was busy, schedules were stacked, and yes, Elliano's has carried me through more than a few long days. But those bags didn’t mean my soul was cluttered. They meant I was living, moving, showing up, and doing the best I could with the time I had. Mess doesn’t cancel out meaning.

Some people believe peace only comes when everything around them looks perfect. The counter has to be cleared, the dishes stacked just right, the desk spotless. But I’ve found that peace isn’t about appearances. It’s about presence. And not just my presence, but God’s.

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.”(John 14:27, ERV)

That verse reminds me that peace is not about control. It’s not about how tidy my desk is or how color-coordinated my planner looks. It’s about letting Jesus meet me in the middle of my mess. The gospel isn’t about God waiting for me to have everything in order before He shows up. It’s about Him stepping right into the chaos, pulling up a chair next to my cluttered desk, and saying, “I’m here. Let’s do this together.”

And here’s the casual truth about the gospel. Jesus didn’t come for the polished people with perfect desks and shiny floorboards. He came for the ones drowning in clutter—clutter in their homes, clutter in their minds, clutter in their hearts. The good news is that His peace doesn’t depend on how clean your life looks on the outside. His peace is about what He’s doing on the inside.

“God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace.”(1 Corinthians 14:33, ERV)

A latte can calm my nerves for a few minutes, and sure, a fresh blowout can make me feel put together. But neither one can clear my mind the way Jesus can. Neither one can remind me that I’m loved, chosen, and carried even when the papers are stacked high and the inbox is overflowing.

So yes, the desk may be messy. The trash can may look like a drive-thru graveyard. The sticky notes may be everywhere, and half of them might not even make sense anymore. But my spirit is clear. My focus is fixed. My peace is firm.

Because peace doesn’t come from tidying everything up. It comes from knowing the One who holds it all together, even when my life looks like scattered sticky notes.

Latte in hand, blowout blessed, dry-shampooed and determined, messy desk and all, but still standing on the gospel truth.