We create our own versions of God and then point fingers of blame at these versions of God.

“God let my sister die. He doesn’t care.”

“God allowed a pandemic. He’s cruel.”

“God needs to be number one all the time?! He’s such a narcissist.” 

These inaccurate versions of God aren’t real, however. God is not busy or senile or narcissistic. God is perfect. We are flawed. Our versions of God are the problem.

So now what? 

Grace. It’s the chief characteristic of God. The big promise. The number-one truth he reveals about his will, his plans, his desire to connect.

Sure, we’re flawed and he’s not. As long as we recognize that, he doesn’t point a finger of accusation at us but opens a hand of invitation. 

“Come to me” (Matthew 11:28). Like Jesus invited people. Sinners. Prostitutes. Criminals. Tax collectors. Beggars. Ceremonially unclean lepers.

Just as you are. You don’t have to clean up first. You don’t have to listen to Christian radio first or send your kids to a Christian school or hire a Christian plumber. 

Come as you are. Grace can handle it. Grace that is beyond your understanding—it exists in God’s heart while viruses and storms and violence exist in this world. You’ll understand why these happen only when you first let go of creating your own version of God. 

And let him be himself with you.