The Terrible Typo
By Lexi Ellis
“For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the
wilderness...”
Isaiah 43:19a (NLT)
I love
being a part of the Fresh Start ministry. Part of my “job” is to format and
edit devotionals. It’s a joy getting a “sneak peak” at how God works in our
writers’ lives and then uses them to share it with others. But sometimes, I miss
a typo or mess up the format. Often, it’s caught by another team member before the
devo goes out, but sometimes it’s not.
Recently,
I missed a letter. There was a word without a vowel and this teacher-by-profession
didn’t see it. Man, I felt like kicking myself. I read the sent-out devo - - now
too late to change it - - and just felt defeated. While a small mistake, it
felt huge at the time. Critical thoughts flooded in: Are you serious? You’re clearly not qualified for this. How did you
miss a mistake in the title…it’s bolded?!
Realizing
this was heading in a dangerous direction, I imagined laying my mistake down at
the Lord’s feet. God, help our readers be encouraged despite this
typo. Help them sense Your Presence and continue to strive towards an active,
ongoing and vibrant relationship with You. Help me depend on Your strength
rather than my own ability and keep things in perspective.
Aren’t
you thankful God has chosen to use imperfect people to do His perfect will? Scripture
is filled with people who really messed up or had awful circumstances, but God
used them when they chose to be obedient…in the midst of their mess. I think of
Abraham and Sarah, Miriam, Gideon, David…all imperfect people whom God used in
spite of their mess. We - - as believers - - also get to be involved in His plan! While
I am very aware of the mistakes I make, I realize God can use me when I trust
and surrender to Him.
And
despite our un-perfect-ness, God has gifted and wired us uniquely for our role in
this plan. There are countless examples of this in Scripture, like when God put
Aaron’s gift of communication or Deborah’s gift of leadership to good use. In
the New Testament, Paul writes about the importance and diversity of spiritual
gifts and how vital these gifts are to the Church (1 Corinthians 12). The strengths we possess
are by no accident.
While I’d
like all words to have vowels, I’m thankful for the reminder that God uses us -
- despite the terrible typos and imperfections - - and that each of us is
uniquely gifted.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
What imperfections do you need to lay at the Lord’s feet?
2. How
has God uniquely designed you for His Kingdom?
FURTHER
READING:
Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have
an adorable puppy named Calvin. She teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake
Intermediate School. Lexi serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh
Start Coordinator.
