The one with the mistake

Last week, a friend and I visited Vistaprint online with the intention of designing a Welcome Card for Wessex.  I have used Vistaprint fairly regularly over the last few years and think they are a great cheap and easy site for business cards.  If you haven't already, you should check them out!

We found a design that we both liked, checked it was fit for purpose and filled in the necessary information.  Pleased with the outcome, I ordered the cards, and even paid an extra £3 for speedy delivery!!  Our super-cool new 'Welcome to Wessex' cards would be with us in less than a week.  Exciting!

And so the wait began ......

Five days later a small parcel arrived, that I immediately recognised as a Vistaprint parcel.  They were here!  Yay!  (Yes, I do get really rather excited at strange things - I am the same with new stationary!)

So, with a great amount of eagerness and anticipation I opened the box, and there they were.  Black background, green and grey lettering, cool design, yes, they were good!!  With a smile on my face (easily pleased!) I kept one out to admire later, and put the rest of them back in the box.  And that was that.  Job well done.

Until two days later, when everything changed.  I glanced down at the card on my table and my little world of joy turned upside down and inside out!
 
The issue?  I had spotted a mistake.   There it was, in black and white.  I couldn't believe it.  I had double checked the details, and so had my co-worker!  Well - not well enough evidently as it seems that our church was now called 'Wessex Christian Fellowsihp'!

 

Although, the mistake is not glaringly obvious at first glance, it is still there.  The card is flawed.  250 imperfect cards, unfit for purpose.  What a waste.  What a disappointment.  They may as well be thrown out.

What if God saw us that way?

We mess up all the time.  Our character is blemished.  We make mistakes.  We think, say and do the wrong things.  Like the card, we are imperfect.

And yet, God doesn't put us back in the box and throw us away. 

Yes, he sees our flaws.  He sees us mess up.  He knows what we are really like.  But - he doesn't let our mistakes define who we are and what we can do.  He does not deem us useless, inept, redundant.

God created us and knows us inside out, and still chooses to use us!  He allows us to learn from experience and continues to teach us and develop us as we walk and work with him.

Our mistakes and imperfections do not change the way he feels about us;  He loves us unconditionally.  He sees the good in us, and knows our potential.  He doesn't scold or rebuke when we fall or mess up, but gently and lovingly encourages us to get back up, to learn, and to try again.

Be encouraged today, God loves you and has a plan and a purpose for your life.  He doesn't make mistakes.  Of course, we may (will!) mess up along the way, but our mistakes do not make us unlovable or of no use.  We have a purpose, and God will help us to fulfill it. Even during our darkest times, when we feel invisible, broken and faulty, God looks at us with pride and encourages us to keep going.  We can be confident that He who began a good work in us, will see it through to completion! (Philippians 1:6)

I am so thankful that God is so much bigger than my mistakes!  Aren't you? :)