Last week I had the privilege of attending the Selma-Dallas County Drug Court graduation. Eleven graduates went to the front of the courtroom and gave their testimony in the same room in which they were convicted.

As they each told about their journey with drugs and alcohol and how their lives were changed forever, I couldn’t help but be a skeptic. I’ve watched too many A&E reality shows about addiction to know that when someone says they are clean from drugs, there is a pretty good chance they could fall back into the habit.

I thought it was wonderful they had changed — but were they really changed forever? But then I caught myself.

I have the same skeptical attitude towards my walk with Christ. I have failed so many times in my attempt to follow His plan for my life that I do not always truly believe He wants to use me anymore for His glory.

I wonder if that is how some Drug Court graduates feel — like they have failed too many times so what’s the point of trying anymore?

There is a point to trying again and it is grace.

One of my favorite Christian authors Francis Chan said God’s grace is just like a GPS for your car. My GPS has an Australian accent and whenever I make a wrong turn he doesn’t get mad. He just says, “Recalculating.”

He does not yell or scream because I made a wrong turn. He does not give up on me. He just says in his little accent, “Recalculating,” and he finds a new route for me to take.

When we make mistakes, God still tells us where to go and gives us directions on how to get there. We can still reach our destination with God, but for some of us taking wrong turns, it might just take a little longer.

In the same way that God forgives us a thousand times over when we make a wrong turn, we should look at others with same forgiving faith and hope that they really can change and make a difference in this world. Drug Court Graduates, family members and some of our friends might make the same mistake over and over but we should help them recalculate a way to follow God’s path.

Forgiveness is more telling someone, “It’s okay that you messed up.” It’s about viewing them through God’s eyes as someone who still has all sorts of potential.

We should never see someone for who they are but see them as who they can become. I know that if the Drug Court graduates (and myself) grasp the idea that on our own we will fail and get lost but if we will just let God act as our GPS then we can accomplish anything.