"Imperfect"

Wanted to show, for them to know,

The wonder of God’s love.

I prayed to be, and the kids to see,

Their Father up above.

But short I fell, and truth to tell,

They didn’t see Him clear,

I prayed that I, it was my cry,

They’d find His love so dear.

God gave me peace, and great release,

From all of my regret,

He uses all, and still will call,

Us to His mercy yet.

The faithful One has just begun,

To do that work in us,

The words He’s said, His Spirit led,

To free our hearts from fuss.

The safest place, to seek His face,

And leave our children there,

Is in His arms, free from alarms,

Entrusted to His care.

“But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:16, NLT)

We don’t measure or evaluate things the way God does. Sometimes when we look at our lives with our faults and failings, we are tempted to believe that these define us. Not true. What God says about us determines who we are and our ultimate value. He is able to use even our worst failings to show others the wonder of His grace. That was the point Paul makes here. It’s good to remember, especially when we consider things we might have done differently with our own children. Rather than grind ourselves to pieces over real or imaginary guilt, we put it all in God’s hands and trust Him to do what He has promised. And that is to use everything to spread the Good News.

Lord, use our history to point others to their spiritual destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Grant Redden, used by permission. Thanks, Grant, and God bless you.