God’s Best Redeems My Worst

Lately it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong has. I walked into a doctor’s appointment fifteen minutes early, and the receptionist informed me that the appointment was for the next day. I spent hours preparing the most amazing meal to throw into the Crock-Pot, only to realize hours later that I never turned it on. These are examples of human error at its finest, proving just how imperfect I am.

My daily screw-ups serve as reminders of my great need for a Savior. When every single task at hand seems daunting, my Lord is still Lord and is mighty to save. As the kids ate cereal and milk for dinner and I reworked my schedule for the following day to make that appointment for real, I had to look up at the heavens and smile. God’s best redeems my worst every single time.

Rather than focus on the worst in life, let’s take a moment to home in on God’s best.

No matter what goes wrong in the hustle and bustle of the real world, God’s got our backs. Before we even take our first steps, he knows we will stumble and sometimes fall flat on our faces. That’s why he has us covered with patience and grace. Do you ever wonder what happened to your ability to handle life? Since having children, buying a house, rescuing two dogs, working full-time jobs, writing and publishing a book, making it to football and cheer practices and games, and all the other stuff on my to-do list, my mind’s ability to function seems almost non-existent at times.

Let’s face it. We’re all busy, and every now and then we’ll miss something. At times, we struggle to get the laundry done and dinner on the table. We have to swing by the drive-through to get something into those little bellies before practice. We are only human and cannot be expected to do it all and do it perfectly. It’s just not possible. So why do we beat ourselves up every time we make a mistake?

In Matthew 14:22–36, Jesus called his disciples to get into a boat and go before him to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowd. Then he went up the mountainside to pray. Later, during the wee hours of the morning, a storm began to brew. Jesus walked on the lake toward them, only to be doubted by his believers. Peter even said, “Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water” (v. 28 NIV). Jesus spoke one word—“Come” (v. 29 NIV). Peter listened, but only on his own terms. He didn’t fully trust Jesus when he tried to walk on the water and saw the wind, and that caused him to sink. Of course, Jesus didn’t allow him to sink completely. He asked him to have faith and reached out his hand to catch him.

Just like Peter, I doubt I can handle everything that gets thrown my way. I look at my schedule and immediately think, I don’t have enough hours in the day to finish everything. I begin to sink. I doubt that I’m capable because I tend to forget the One who made me able. But as I fall, Jesus reaches out to catch me.

Can’t we all relate to this story about Jesus and his disciples? Jesus knew the disciples would face the storm, but he asked them to get into the boat anyway. What we are quick to miss is that he was on the mountainside praying and watching the whole time, ready to save them.

What a testimony to hold on to! Trust that he is with you today, even when everything else seems wrong. He is for you, not against you. He will see to it that you are strong enough to face the storm, and he will catch you when you fall. You’re not alone before, during, or after the storm. Will you get into the boat and trust the One who made you able?

Lindsay Hart is a wife, mother of two, and elementary school teacher. She is on a mission to obey God doing whatever it takes to follow His commands in her life. Her obedience led to life changes such as taking time off work to focus on her family. Lindsay enjoys sharing her “God stories” and helping people grow closer to Christ. She blogs at lovedfirstbygod.wordpress.com.

Photograph © Bethany Beams, used with permission

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