Fumbling Forward

A friend texted me the other day. She was vulnerable and shared that she was looking for a way to be closer to God, but she didn't want to start another "thing" that she wouldn't finish and end up feeling worse about herself.

Ever been there? I have. 

In fact I'd just been thinking that very thing the day before so I shared what I believe God told me:

It's not how perfectly we walk through life. It's the lessons we learn while we walk imperfectly. Even when we stumble and fumble, as long as we're stumbling forward God honors that and sees our heart. <-- that last part was shared with me by a special friend many years ago, but I constantly have to remind myself.

And today in my reading I was reminded of Paul's words that echo this same sentiment:

"...but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope." Romans 5:3-4