My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Psalm 57:17 (NIV)

The first time someone told me that I was one of those people who “had it all together” I nearly fell over. Apparently, I put off a vibe that I know what I’m doing, that I’ve just always known the direction of my life, who I was, and what I was going to be. I think the vibe comes from playing sports and a lifetime of public speaking, but…

Sweet friends, the perception couldn’t be further from the truth. During large portions of my life I’ve been a hot mess. Insecure. Anxious. Doubtful. Competitive. Judgmental. Title or prestige driven. Worldly. Flawed. Broken. And more.

Somehow though, despite all of my flaws, my many mistakes and shortcomings, everything has worked together to put me on this new journey with God: using what He has given me to minister to others as a writer and (hopefully soon) a Christian educational speaker/consultant.

If I’m a hot mess part of the time, how did it happen?

That’s simple: Only Jesus.

Every decision that has ever made me appear “to have it all together” has been a decision to follow God.

I never know where we’re going or how we’ll get there. Sometimes I doubt and fret and hedge at His call, but He always gives me clarity and strength and in the end, we get there. One of His favored methods of getting me there in my life, and I think it’s true of many lives, is through the perfectly timed placement of people who inspire me to grow, who mentor me and add to my knowledge and experience. I would not be who I am today without His promises and His unfailing grace of placing the right people in my life at exactly the right time. If you’re one of those people and reading this right now, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And thank God for you!”.

I say all this to share:

Don’t worry if you don’t have it all together.

No one on this earth has ever had it all together. God used them anyway:

• Eve believed a liar over God.
• Adam listened to his wife over God.
• Abraham doubted God would give him an heir.
• Sarah laughed at the idea of having a baby so late in life.
• Jacob cheated his brother.
• Moses stuttered and doubted God could use him.
• Rahab was a prostitute.
• David sent a man to his death so he could take his wife (that he had also gotten pregnant while her husband was away).
• Solomon was led astray by pagan wives God told him not to marry.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Elijah ran from his enemies.
• Peter was distracted, nearly drowned, and then denied Christ 3x.
• The disciples fell asleep while praying.
• Paul murdered early Christians when he was Saul the Pharisee.

No one has it all together except God.

He knows every step, every word, every chance encounter, every life altering event, and He has orchestrated them all for good. We may not know how it will turn out. We may not know what tomorrow will bring. I certainly never have. BUT I know that my God is mighty to save and swift to comfort and generous in all good things.

I know that all I need to do is obey.

Beloved, God’s never failed me before, and He’ll not fail me in the future! He’s never failed you either, nor will He!

We might not have it all together, but God doesn’t expect us to; He’s the One who keeps all of our pieces in place. His glory is revealed through our weakness! What weakness, flaw, or hot mess do you need to ask God to use today? Who has sent to come alongside you at just the right time? Thank Him for that person or people today! Thank them too for answering His call!