Presence Not Perfection
This summer I was invited to join a Bible study with some friends. We are studying the Book of Genesis currently and this week’s lesson was on Noah and the Ark. I knew the basics of Noah, but this deeper dive has really caused me to think about Noah’s faith and obedience and through his obedience, he found grace in God’s eyes.
I have many days when faith feels distant. Not because I stop believing in God, but because I stop walking with Him. Life gets busy and things get messy. I make mistakes, lose direction, and slowly drift away. And the hardest part? I don’t always know how to come back.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: we were never meant to do this alone. I need my faith, my friends, and my family — not just to support me, but to hold me accountable, to guide me, and to remind me of who I am when I forget.
My faith has been both a blessing and a challenge. A blessing because, even when I’ve failed, God never has. He keeps loving. He keeps forgiving. He keeps calling me back. The challenge is showing up — every day. Choosing to live like Noah by being obedient, even when it’s hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. And yes — sometimes I fail. I don’t always follow through. I judge too quickly. I let pride get in the way. I stop being curious about people’s stories and start assuming I know everything. But deep down, I know that's not who I’m called to be.
That’s when I think about Noah. In the Book of Genesis, Noah is described as a man who “walked with God.” Not “stood next to God” or “checked in with God once a year,” but walked — every day, step by step. In a world full of corruption, Noah didn’t let himself be swallowed by it. He stayed faithful. He wasn’t perfect — but he was consistent. And because of that, God used him to renew the world. Consistency is key.
In a sense, Noah’s story reminds me of what it means to come back — or maybe, come home — to God. We don’t have to have it all figured out. We just have to take the next step. God isn’t waiting for perfection. He’s waiting for presence — for us to say, “Okay, Lord, I’m here. I want to walk with You again.”
The Church isn’t just a place for saints — it’s a home for the broken, the confused, and the struggling. That includes me. He doesn’t just forgive us — He restores us.
So, I will continue to strive to grow in God’s message — to be more obedient than prideful, more faithful than fearful, and more willing to trust in His plan - even when it doesn't make sense. Like Noah, I want to walk with God — not perfectly, but faithfully, with humility, perseverance, and hope.
God bless.
