Messy to Mastery

The great egg flip.

As I watched him flip the egg in the frying pan, I couldn’t help but marvel—not at the egg, but at the absence of hesitation. What I saw was confidence. What I saw was focus.

He reached out, gripped the handle firmly, lifted the pan with purpose, gave it a quick upward motion, and with a smooth wrist swivel, the egg broke free, flipped midair, and landed—right on target—in the center of the hot pan. Mission accomplished.

But the most remarkable part? Just a week earlier, he couldn’t do it.

Flipping an egg had become my grandson’s personal goal. He saw me do it and decided he wanted to learn. So, I showed him—multiple times. He watched, asked questions, and I answered. I also told him—with full confidence—that with a little practice, he’d get it too.

His first attempt was… well, messy. Yolk on the counter. Egg white on the burner. We cleaned up the gooey evidence of the flop, and I gently reminded him: “This isn’t failure—it’s just your first attempt in learning.”

We kept at it. With each try, he improved. But there was always a slight hesitation. Right at the moment where he had to commit—lift, flip, and trust the egg would land. That hesitation was doubt, and it showed. We talked about it. I told him, “Confidence doesn’t start after the egg lands. You have to be confident when you first grip the pan.” Once the egg safely lands, it’s just growth in skills and competence.

And then came the moment—his Joshua moment.

Just like the young leader in Scripture who had to step into big shoes and trust God at every step, my grandson took a risk after instruction. He trusted the process. He listened to guidance. And then he showed courage in action.

That’s the kind of everyday confidence God cultivates in all of us—not loud or flashy, but steady, teachable, and willing to try again.

With both hands steady on the pan, he stood over the flame, lifted the pan high, and flipped. No hesitation. The egg turned in the air, landed squarely in the middle of the pan, and cooked to golden perfection. The grin on his face said it all. He had done it—not just flipped an egg, but flipped a mindset.

So what’s the big deal about a fried egg?

It’s what that egg represents:

· That success often follows a series of splattered, frustrating messes.

· That real growth comes with patience, practice, and persistence.

· That confidence is built through failure, not in spite of it.

· That guidance from someone who believes in you makes all the difference.

· That courage doesn’t mean you’re never scared—it means you try anyway.

He learned what David knew when he faced Goliath, what Esther knew when she stepped before the king, what Peter knew when he reached out to heal.
He learned what Joshua believed when God said, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Now he knows—he can move from inexperience to competence. That trying again is a mark of strength, not weakness. That confidence comes not from perfection, but from progress.

So go ahead—flip some eggs today.
Messy or not, each flip is a step toward something greater.

You've got this.