Letting God Meet You “Right Now”

A friend recently shared a message with me from an author who talked about relationships and how people are only capable of showing up exactly how they are “right now.” That they can only meet us to the extent that they’ve met themselves.

And I loved it. It’s easy to think of current or past relationships – with friends or otherwise – and remember where a certain person’s “right now” was when you met.

We are all only exactly how we are “right now.” We’ve all had growing pains, have stumbled, made mistakes. We have not resolved how to resolve conflict, some have not let go of hurts, have not yet “done their homework” to move forward in future relationships in healthy ways.

We can all name those we know. We can certainly add ourselves to the list.

But what I love even more about this message is that Jesus meets us exactly where we are “right now.” With our faults, our sins, our shame. Our worries, our unresolved conflicts. And there’s no judgement, no disappointment.

Just, love.
Open arms, and love.
Come to me, He says.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

He doesn’t expect perfection from us. He doesn’t need our hearts to be tidy prior to entering. He knows what’s already there.

I recently spent two years living in shame over a failed marriage. Two years of hesitating to allow God to meet me “right now,” in that bubble of shame that I allowed to grip my life.

It wasn’t until I finally – and fully – surrendered, that I allowed Him to meet me “right now.” It was freeing in a way I hadn’t expected – and followed a series of events and guidance from people that led me to that moment.

The best people. The best moments. The hardest work.

Tell me God doesn’t have His hand in all the moments. Tell me our God isn’t patient.

I was met exactly where I was. When I desperately called out. There were no questions asked by a God so patient, and with a reward so magnificent.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.” (Matthew 18:12-13)

Let God meet you “right now.” In your mess. In your depression. In your pain. Call out, reach out, and know He is waiting. He is calling. The devil works hard to prevent this. The devil works hard to make us believe our “right now” is not worthy of forgiveness, of release.

Not worthy of God’s grace or love. Not worthy of freedom. But, friends, you are worthy of this – and so much more. Let God help you find freedom, let Him in the deepest and the darkest. The thickest. In the anxiety, the lies that try to convince you you’re not enough.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Answer when He knocks. Answer, at your “right now.”