Life is not a cake walk or a walk in the park. It’s no bed of roses or piece of cake. (why does cake keep coming up? idk.) People are not perfect…or even close to it. Yet, we try, boy oh boy do we try, to appear that we have it all together. We attempt to make our lives appear successful and flawless, lest others know the truth. The truth for most of us is that:
We don’t have it all together.
We are not totally with it.
We mess up on big and little things.
We hurt.
We have guilt.
We wish we were better.
We compare ourselves to others (who btw are pretending to have it all together, so of course we come up short).
We have disabilities that we try to cover because we are embarrassed.
We have deformities we try to hide because we don’t want anyone to realize we are different.
We have insecurities.
Our past haunts us.
We are afraid and unsettled.
We feel alone.
Our mistakes steal our present freedom.
We have lost loved ones and have not gotten over it.
We know that no one else on earth feels the way we do.
We don’t want to tell anyone.
We keep a lot inside.
We are broken.
To all the people without problems, this post is not for you. You can pray for the rest of us please 
But to those who are brave enough to admit it, join me today in a little exercise I like to call “AOT”, which stands for “Add On Truth.” You’ve heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, we is some broke folks in need of fixin’!” And the way to do that is to “AOT.”
Let’s repeat the above statements and AOT to them:
We don’t have it all together, but we have been chosen and appointed by God to produce worthwhile things. (John 15:16)
We are not totally with it, but we have been given the gift of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
We mess up on big and little things, but we are loved by God anyway and will live forever. (John 3:16-17)
We hurt, but the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. (Psalm 35)
We have guilt, but there is no condemnation for those who in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and we are justified (not guilty). (Romans 3:24)
We wish we were better, but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:19)
We compare ourselves to others (who btw are pretending to have it all together, so of course we come up short), but we are God’s masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)
We have disabilities that we try to cover because we are embarrassed, but we are made in the image of God and why would we ever need to cover that up? (Genesis 1:27)
We have deformities we try to hide because we don’t want anyone to realize we are different, but we are wonderfully made by God. (Psalm 139:14)
We have insecurities, but we are confident that God will finish the good work that He has begun in us. (Philippians 1:6)
Our past haunts us, but by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
We are afraid and unsettled, but we have peace from Jesus and there is no need to be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
We feel alone, but we are never alone. God is always watching over us, never even taking a break to sleep! (Psalm 121:3)
Our mistakes steal our present freedom, but God forgives the guilt of our sins. (Psalm 32:5)
We have lost loved ones and have not gotten over it, but we are blessed and will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
We know that no one else on earth feels the way we do, but God knows everything about us and He will not abandon us. (Psalm 139:1, 138:8) ***and there are plenty of people who feel like us…just read my blog comments from past posts!
We don’t want to tell anyone, but God will listen. (Jeremiah 29:12)
We keep a lot inside, but we but God knows us well. He knew us even before we were born. (Psalm 139:1, 13)
We are broken, but although our flesh and heart may fail us, God is the strength of our heart and our portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Dear Lord,
We are broken and in need of repair! Thank you for the miracle You create from our shattered lives. Help us to believe about ourselves what You know about us. May we claim these “AOT’s” as the absolute truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Sponsor a Child
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I am very broken and needed this today – thank you.
Thank you so much for this post melissa! I have had one of my worst ever days as a mom today and needed this healing reminder! Thank you for allowing God to speak through you!
I love getting the P31 e-mails so now I’m trying to “meet” some of you! This is a great post….that list is amazing!! Can we print it out for ourselves or is it available anywhere?? I’d love to pass it on to some friends, too….
I suffered anxity during a recent pregnancy and embracing TRUTH made aaaaallll the difference!!! Love it!
Whoa, Melissa–I’m some kinda needin’ this today! Thank you. I want to print these and post them on my fridge so I can just find whatever problem I’m facing that day and read that I have victory over it through Jesus!
Awesome. God is so awesome.
One word – AWESOME!
I havent heard of you before Melissa, but I tell you i enjoy your message today! It is a constant reminder that there no such thing as a pecfect family, perfect people so on and on! This is why we need God in our daily lives to remind us with God anything is possible and that he sees us thru our daily lives!
Well said. I love it and I claim it.
I printed these the moment I read them….That was a word I needed today…..Your posts always speak to me right where I am walking….
LOVE it! Thank you!!
Sweet friend..this is amazing!!!! What a wonderful resource. THANK YOU!!! Oh Lord, may it be so much more than a resource for those of us who read it, but may these truths penetrate our hearts that need fixin’.
Love ya friend,
Hugs,
Joy
Thanks Melissa for sharing this. One of the things I love about you most is that your are so “real”. That is so encouraging to me.
This is the first time I have read your page and I really enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing this. I really needed to hear this today.
Great truths. Spoke deep into my own situation. Thank you very much for reminding me that Christ is the healer of broken hearts and minds.
Thank you so much Melissa! Thank you for reminding me how real everyone else is and that I am not alone in some of this stinkin thinkin at times. Thank you for God’s TRUTH in these verses so we can battle the stinkin thinkin that the devil likes to put our my minds. Also thank you for being REAL!
Lee Ann
I needed to read this today. I have had quite a few changes in my life in a short period of time. I have felt so alone as I deal with the changes. Sometimes it feels like God isn’t there, or isn’t listening, even though I know He is.
Oh Melissa, thank you SO much for your post. As always, you speak right to my heart. I, too, will be printing this out and reading it often. It is so important to find people/friends who are “real.” Trusting is hard. Thank you for being real. So many of us need your posts. God is working through you to help us all!
oh God is so amazing! His timing is perfect. Our family is moving through an intense time of “brokenness” and we are hanging on by our fingernails! So much, so many dynamics and I am just plain weary and feeling like a tennis ball in a tennis match! Your words and AOT’s were like oxygen to my brain, thank you! We will get through this and He will reign and shine in our lives and today I will trust in this truth. Thank you for some powerful help and reality! I will look to the Son!