The Things I Am Not

In a moment of harsh reality, I saw my life for what it really was. In that brief moment when the veneer of my existence was stripped away, I saw all the things I am not.

I am not a man of real integrity,
Nor am I loving or patient.
I am not a man of substance.
I am not upright, blameless, or self-controlled.
I am but a shadow of what a father and husband should be.
I am undisciplined, ill-equipped and untrained.
I do not hold any noticeable skill in any area of life.
I am not remarkable.
I am not significant.

As I tried to comprehend all that I saw, and felt the tearing of my soul in quiet and lonely places, I heard what seemed to be a far off voice calling my name. In time I came to understand that the voice belonged to God. My shame swallowed me up as I knew that God too saw all I had only so recently discovered. To my surprise, I heard Him say, “Let me add a few more things to your list.”

“You are not unknown.
You are not a mistake.
You are not alone.
You are not abandoned.
You are not left hopeless.
You are not a stranger to me.
You are not purposeless.
You are not unforgiven.
You are not an orphan.”

There are many things I am not. Yet there is one thing I am.

I belong to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

I am a child of God.