At any given moment, there are two versions of you: the version that is and the version that could be.

There was a commercial that showed two versions of a man in old age. One version was healthy and active, playing with his grandchildren. The other version was sick and unhealthy, lying in a hospitable bed.

Each version was the result of the decisions he had made earlier in life.

Do you ever wonder how life would have ended up differently if you had made different decisions? For some readers, this engages your wonder. For others, it engages regret. Wherever you land, check out this parable from Jesus: “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain” (Mark 4:26-28).

We can get so caught up wondering what could be that we miss what God is doing. His kingdom work is not limited by our potential. His Spirit is not subjected to our level of understanding. He works in ways we don’t understand.

You might not understand the seeds that God has been planting in your life. He can even plant them in your mistakes. But they are growing, and it takes time to get from seed to sickle.

Whatever version of yourself you see in the mirror today, know that God is not finished with you yet.