Have you ever gone to bed and your mind just wouldn’t stop? Replaying conversations from the day….thinking about what needs to be done that didn’t get done….planning for tomorrow and adding what didn’t get done today….trying to understand why your family and friends are facing things that simply are not fair…..trying to figure out what I can do to make it better….asking God, “Why?” And while my mind is racing and jumping from one thought to another somehow my body relaxes, and I fall asleep. That in itself is God’s grace, and I am so thankful for it.

I know that I am not perfect, and Jesus knows it too. News flash!!! I am broken, and guess what, every single human being is. Even the ones that look like they have all the answers. Even those that tell me maybe I don’t pray enough, repent enough, study enough, listen enough, do enough, do the “right” things enough. Every single one of us has work to do to be more like Jesus. It’s mind boggling to me, but even Billy Graham didn’t reach perfection while on this earth. And let me tell you, if he wasn’t perfect right before he changed addresses and passed into the arms of Jesus, I can promise you (without a shadow of a single doubt) that I surely won’t reach perfection this side of Heaven either. My journey to isn’t supposed to look like anyone else’s. My prayer life may be different from yours. The way I worship and relate to God may look different than the way you worship. My service to God may be different. And guess what, it’s ok. God created each of us with different characteristics and in His image at the same time. Now that’s something to think on….

So, in the “now” and “not yet” what am I supposed to do? If I am not going to be perfect this side of Heaven, what am I to do? The only way for me to know that is by remaining connected to God. See, connections matter. If you don’t believe me, think about what happens when the electricity or internet connection goes out. What about when you get that awful news from the doctor? What happens when we lose someone we love? What happens when the storm comes and destroys our home? Connections are lost, people change….and life changes. Kids grow up and move away. We change jobs. We move to a new city. We lose family members. We lose a sense of familiarity. We may even lose pieces of ourselves along the way….some good and maybe some not so good. But through all the changes, if I remain connected to God, it’s always going to be ok. Maybe not easy. Maybe not what I expect. Maybe not what I want to do. Maybe not what I understand….but knowing God, it’s going to better that I could ever imagine….maybe not now….maybe not yet……maybe not even while I am breathing the air of this world. But God…….He’s got me in the palm of His hand….and that’s one connection that will never be broken.