The Art of Imperfection

Have you ever wondered why we try so hard to be perfect?

We strive to have perfect families. We obsess and sometimes spend thousands of dollars to achieve a "perfect" body. When we are in school we are pushed to have perfect grades and perfect scores. We try and, as in my case, repeatedly fail at keeping perfectly clean, neat, and immaculately decorated homes. We try to personify the perfect Christian. We want perfect husbands, and perfect kids, perfect hair, perfect financial freedom, perfect personalities, and perfect clothes for the perfect occasion so that the perfect holiday dinner that we cooked will delight our perfect parents and in-laws. It all makes me nauseous.

I have come to the conclusion that living with imperfection is sometimes WAY harder than trying to be being perfect. Of course, perfection is totally unrealistic in most cases. It will never happen until I am made perfect by our Lord when it is my time to go. But while I are here, I am realizing that I am wasting time trying too hard to be "perfect." Where as it is easy for me to pretend that my life is wonderful and flawless, I tended to put a lot of pressure on myself trying to be that way.

No one wants to be imperfect. We just are. Nothing we can do on our own power will change that.

There are so many things that I would love to change about myself. So many attributes that I would love to have that I don't. So many pet sins that I seem to keep stumbling over. Yet, I continue everyday trying and failing.

To me, perfection is unchangeable. It's flawless and complete. No changes are ever necessary. It's also nearly impossible. Yet, I chose to torment myself into thinking it's necessary to be excepted and loved by others, but more importantly by God. And while it's true that sometimes people do expect perfection, I am reminded on a daily basis that my Father doesn't. He knows I am going to fall. He knows how completely flawed I am. He still is with me. And His love for me stays steadfast.

I had to face it. I AM IMPERFECT. And it's OK. Why?

Because perfection has been achieved. I came across this verse last week in my quiet time and wanted to share it with you.

"Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a PERFECT sacrifice for our sins."

Hebrews 9:14

Jesus alone was perfect. We will never achieve perfection like He did. And He did it for us so that we don't have to be perfect, but still can live eternally with our amazing Creator! He did it because He wanted to. Because His love for His imperfect people is so unfathomable that He chose to live a faultless life and then give it up so that we could be forever together with God.

Does this mean we should just let it all go and live as we want? No. But it does mean that the pressure is off. When we mess up, which we will, if we are in a personal relationship with Jesus, our shortcomings will never separate us from His abiding love.

And because of this undeserved and unearned grace He bestows on us, someday on the glorious day that we will get to meet Him face to face face, we will get that perfected body and the perfect mansion that He's creating just for you and me! We will sing with a perfect voice to the perfecter of our faith, our beloved Savior.