Present, Not Perfect

God is not asking you to be perfect.

He’s asking you to be present.

And I know—that alone should feel like a collective exhale.

Let me take you back for a minute… back to back in my day days. You know, when classrooms had chalkboards, wooden desks, and teachers who didn’t play about rules. Before anything happened—before the lesson, before the worksheets, before the announcements—the teacher did one very important thing.

They called roll.

One by one, names were called.

And when your name was spoken, you answered with one simple word:

“Present.”

That response meant a lot more than just “I showed up.”

It meant:

You were in the room

You were on time

You were in your assigned seat

You were awake, alert, and ready to learn

You were prepared to receive whatever the day held

And if your name was called and no voice answered?

You were marked absent—and the class moved on without you.

No chasing.

No explaining.

No special pause.

Just… next name.

Now sit with that for a second.

Because the more I reflect on that simple daily routine, the more I realize something powerful:

Jesus is calling roll every single day.

Not to embarrass us.

Not to pressure us.

Not to test how perfect we are.

But to see if we’re present.

And the question becomes—when He calls our name, what’s our response?

Are we saying, “Present, Lord”?

Or are we sitting in silence, hoping He skips over us because we don’t feel ready, worthy, or put together enough?

Here’s the honest truth:

A lot of us have confused perfection with readiness.

We think we have to have everything in order before we answer God.

We think we need to fix ourselves, clean ourselves up, and get it all together before we show up.

But that was never the requirement.

Not then.

Not now.

Perfection has never been the entry fee.

Presence has.

See, in that classroom, the teacher didn’t ask if your homework was flawless before marking you present.

They didn’t ask if you fully understood the lesson already.

They didn’t even ask if you felt confident about the day.

They just needed to know one thing:

Are you here?

And I think that’s exactly what God is asking us.

Are you here—not just physically, but spiritually?

Are you awake to what He’s trying to teach you today?

Are you sitting in the seat He assigned you, or have you wandered off trying to sit in someone else’s lane?

Are you listening, or are you mentally checked out while life runs on autopilot?

Because silence doesn’t always mean absence of faith.

Sometimes it just means we’re hiding behind the illusion of “I’ve got this.”

And let’s be real—life be lifing.

We’re busy.

We’re tired.

We’re juggling responsibilities, emotions, expectations, and about twelve tabs open in our minds at all times.

Some days we show up late.

Some days we barely make it through the door.

Some days we’re in our seat, but our heart is somewhere else entirely.

And yet… God still calls our name.

Every morning.

Every moment.

Every season.

Not asking for a performance.

Not asking for perfection.

Just asking for presence.

There’s something sacred about responding “present” even when you feel unprepared.

“Present” says, I don’t know everything, but I’m willing to learn.

“Present” says, I don’t have all the answers, but I’m open.

“Present” says, I’m tired, I’m unsure, but I showed up anyway.

And let me tell you something—God can do far more with a willing heart than a polished one.

Some of the greatest lessons aren’t taught when we feel ready.

They’re taught when we’re simply available.

So maybe today isn’t about getting your life perfectly aligned before you pray.

Maybe it’s about waking up, sitting still for a moment, and saying:

“Present, Lord.”

Not rushing ahead of Him.

Not drowning out His voice with noise and distractions.

Not assuming you already know the lesson.

Just… present.

Because when you respond, the instruction follows.

And here’s the part we often forget:

If you’re not present, you might miss the very thing that would change you.

You might miss the encouragement meant just for you.

You might miss the redirection that would save you heartache.

You might miss the quiet whisper that brings clarity to the chaos.

God isn’t calling roll to keep score.

He’s calling roll because He has something to teach.

Something to reveal.

Something to shift.

Something to grow in you.

But learning requires showing up.

So today—right where you are—no fixing, no pretending, no polishing—just answer the call.

Wake up.

Be on time in your spirit.

Take your seat.

Lift your voice.

And when God calls your name, don’t stay silent.

Say it with confidence.

Say it with humility.

Say it with expectancy.

“Present.”

And get ready—because class is in session, and the lesson might just change everything.

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