When my boys were little, we used to love carving pumpkins together. They were never fancy — just a few triangle eyes, crooked smiles, and a whole lot of laughter. We’d sit out in the driveway on cool fall evenings, carving away on top of spread-out newspaper — back when that was the thing. I guess now we’d have to use laid-out Amazon boxes instead!
Those nights were simple, messy, and full of joy. Pumpkin seeds stuck to our elbows, goofy designs that never quite turned out like we planned — but we had fun trying. And every fall, when I see porches lined with glowing pumpkins, I can’t help but think about those moments… and how they point to something deeper about how God works in us.
God Picks Us
Just like we go to the pumpkin patch to find the one, God handpicks each of us. He sees beyond the dirt, the bumps, and the imperfections and says, “That one’s mine.”
He doesn’t pass over us because we’re not perfect — He chooses us because He already knows the story He’s going to tell through our lives.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” – John 15:16
We may think we’re just another pumpkin in a field full of options, but to God, we’re His specific, intentional choice — one He plans to shape for His glory.
He Cleans Us Out
Before a pumpkin can shine, it has to be cleaned out. The sticky, stringy mess inside has to go before the light can fill it.
That’s exactly what God does with our hearts. He gently reaches in and removes what doesn’t belong — the fears, bitterness, pride, and anything else that clouds His light. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s necessary.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10
When we let Him do the cleaning, He makes space for something beautiful to shine through.
He Carves with Care
Every time I carved with the boys, I had a design in mind. It didn’t always come out right — most of the time, we just laughed and made it work. But when God carves, He never slips. Every cut, every curve, every shaping has a purpose.
Sometimes the carving hurts. Life has a way of chipping at us, and we wonder why God allows certain things. But in time, we see that those very places — the spots where we felt cut and broken — are the places His light shines through the brightest.
“We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8
He Places His Light Inside
After all the scooping and carving comes the best part — lighting the candle. That’s when the pumpkin comes alive. The glow makes all the work worth it.
God does the same with us. He places His Spirit within us, and suddenly, our lives have purpose. We don’t shine because we’re perfect; we shine because His light is inside us.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
Every October, when I see pumpkins glowing on porches and kids dressed up laughing under the streetlights, I think about how God takes ordinary, imperfect people like us and fills us with His extraordinary light.
We were never meant to be flawless — we were meant to be filled.
So this fall, as you see those carved pumpkins glowing in the dark, remember: you were chosen, cleaned, carved, and filled by a loving God who created you on purpose and for a purpose.
Let His light shine through you — because the world needs the glow He’s placed inside. 🧡
Journal Reflection
- What “mess” might God be cleaning out of your heart in this season?
- Where have you seen His careful carving — the moments that hurt but later revealed His purpose?
- How can you let His light shine more boldly through you this fall?
Take a few quiet moments to reflect, and write honestly. Don’t worry about pretty words — just be real with God.
Lord, thank You for choosing me — for seeing value in what the world might overlook. Thank You for cleaning out the mess inside me and shaping me into something You can use. When life feels uncomfortable or uncertain, help me remember that You are carving with care, never wasting a single cut. Fill me with Your Spirit so that my life glows with Your goodness and grace. May others see Your light in me and be drawn closer to You. Amen.
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