Some pests hide in the cracks and corners of our homes, showing up when we least expect them. Others live quietly inside us, in the form of worry, resentment, or old habits we haven’t dealt with yet. Either way, both kinds have one thing in common: they multiply in the dark.
The other day, I found myself cleaning my kitchen after a long day of work. There it was, evidence that my late-night pest control plan worked. Part of me was grossed out. But another part whispered, “This is what growth looks like.” Sometimes, you have to face the mess before you can reclaim peace.
When I swept up the remnants of what once crawled freely, I realized how similar this is to the spiritual life. We all have areas that need cleansing, places where we’ve allowed things to linger too long. As Ecclesiastes 3:6 reminds us, “a time to keep and a time to throw away.”
The Real Work of Clearing
Cleaning out physical pests is straightforward: spray, sweep, repeat. But internal ones? Those take more courage.
The pests of the soul are sneaky. They disguise themselves as justifiable frustration, harmless distractions, or unresolved hurt. They live in the corners of our hearts, feeding on things we’ve ignored. And if left alone, they start running the place.
Jesus once said in Matthew 12:44-45 that when an unclean spirit leaves a person and returns to find the house empty, it brings seven others worse than itself. That verse always hits me hard. It’s not enough to clear something out; we have to fill the space with something holy, something new. Otherwise, the same old pests come marching back with friends.
I’ve noticed this in my own patterns, when I leave the “mental house” unattended, discouragement creeps back in. But when I fill it with gratitude, prayer, and discipline, peace returns. As Anne Lamott put it, “Grace meets us where we are, but doesn’t leave us where it found us.”
The Daily Choice
We don’t get rid of pests once and for all; we keep them away by maintaining the environment.
The same goes for our spiritual health. Romans 12:2 calls us to be “transformed by the renewing of our mind.” Renewal isn’t a one-time sweep. It’s a daily ritual of keeping light and truth flowing through the spaces where negativity used to live.
When I clean, I light a candle. It’s not just for the scent, it’s symbolic. Light exposes what hides in shadows. Just as in life, truth exposes lies, love expels fear, and forgiveness evicts bitterness.
As Rumi wrote, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
Maybe that’s the whole point, not to live pest-free, but to live light-filled.
Soul Insights
1. Darkness attracts what light neglects.
Whatever we refuse to confront will eventually confront us. Pests, physical or spiritual, thrive where there’s neglect. The more we avoid something, the stronger it becomes. Shining light through prayer, honesty, or simple awareness is the first act of reclaiming peace. God never asks us to clean perfectly, only to open the blinds.
2. Maintenance is holiness in disguise.
Sometimes we think holiness looks like mountaintop moments, but more often it looks like faithfulness in the mundane like sweeping the kitchen, clearing clutter, or journaling through pain. Every small act of care honors the temple He entrusted to us.
3. Peace requires participation.
You can’t pray away what you keep feeding. Whether it’s a habit, a toxic pattern, or emotional clutter, change requires cooperation with grace. As Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
4. Renewal starts with environment.
Your physical surroundings often mirror your inner state. A messy room, inbox, or thought life can all send the same message: there’s unfinished business here. By creating order around you, you create order within. God’s Spirit moves best in uncluttered spaces.
5. Gratitude is the ultimate repellent.
Gratitude doesn’t deny hardship, it disarms it. It’s impossible for negativity to thrive in a grateful heart. Like light flooding into a dark corner, gratitude exposes what doesn’t belong and replaces it with joy. As Melody Beattie once said, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
Final Thoughts
Clearing pests (literal or metaphorical) is not glamorous. It’s slow, repetitive, and sometimes uncomfortable. But peace doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from participation. God doesn’t want spotless homes; He wants surrendered hearts.
So tonight, as I sip tea in a clean kitchen, I’m reminded that cleansing isn’t punishment; it’s preparation. It’s what happens when we decide to make room for light again.
Your Turn
This week, take a few moments to look around and within.
What have you allowed to linger too long: a thought, a grudge, a habit? Sweep it out. Then, fill that space with something true, beautiful, and life-giving. Light your candle. Pray. Thank God for new beginnings.
Because peace isn’t just found in stillness, it’s built one small act of cleansing at a time.
© 2025 Amelie Chambord
Soul Path Insights 
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