Our Best
“I am with you always.”
Sisters, always means always. It doesn’t mean when we’re paying attention. It doesn’t mean when we’re well-behaved. It means always.
I regularly forget that Jesus is with me all the time, and truthfully, my immediate response is often discomfort. I don’t like that He sees every mistake, that He knows every good choice and every bad one. My ego flinches at every misstep that He sees, but...
God’s love is greater than our failure.
Let’s be honest, there’s something out of whack when I am alarmed at Jesus being close to me all the time. When my pride is threatened by the prospect of God’s presence instead of being consoled, I’m grossly underestimating God’s love and His goodness. When I’m uncomfortable with Jesus’ ever-presence, it’s usually because I’m not willing to receive His mercy for the times He’s watched me fail.
Sisters, if my pride won’t allow me to receive His mercy, it’s really difficult to receive His love and His joy. When God sees our mistakes, it can be tempting to shrivel up in shame - but we have to remember that for every mistake that He witnesses, He also sees every triumph. And at the end of the day, He’s a good, good Father who chooses to see the best of us.
Father,
Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for never leaving us - even when that scares us or intimidates us or makes us uncomfortable.
Teach us how to be free in Your presence. Teach us how to be like children - free to make mistakes, apologize, and move on. Show us how to shed our shame.
God, we love You. We want to follow You well - teach us how. Amen.