Who launches their new website with a mistake on the social media announcement? I do.
We’ve all been there. Why do those mistakes hide before we hit post, only to taunt us after it’s live for all to see? In that moment I’m torn: take it down, repost, or leave it? Lots of friends have seen the post and commented already. So, I decide to live what I believe. Live imperfect. Be real.
What about you? How do mistakes sit with you? Do you place extra pressure on yourself to portray a better image? Do you avoid entertaining others because your previously hidden messiness might be discovered? Do you hang back from opportunities because you think you are just not quite ready? Do you avoid difficult conversations because you can’t control the outcome?
Are we called to be perfect?
I love that Jesus chose imperfect disciples to build his church. It sure makes it easier for us. Yet, in a day where we can so easily cover up flaws, we unconsciously celebrate perfectionism–even fake perfectionism, in building that church.
So, are we called to be perfect?
Many years ago, I shared with a coworker some of my less than stellar moments as a teen. Later she came to me and told me our conversation helped her to believe that God would accept her with all her mistakes. She was touched by the grace of God and not my seemingly flawless life. She was touched that if God could love me with all my mistakes, then maybe he could love her too.
We want people to be drawn to Jesus, not to us. We want them to want Him, not because of our lack of mistakes, but because of the difference He makes in our lives. We want them to see Jesus. We want them to be amazed at Jesus, not our perfectionism.
So don’t be afraid to live imperfectly.
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NIV).
Wonderful & timely reminder for my husband and me right now as we pursue a new leadership role. Thank you for sharing!
This is just the encouragement I needed this morning. Thank you!
This is crucial. If we love ourselves based on our perfection, then we're not going to love ourselves much - and when we do, the love will be quite fragile, surviving only until the next blow splinters our self-concept to shards. We need the Holy Spirit to lift us above this and assure us of His boundless love - as we remember the riches He sends cascading down on us each and every day! As this knowledge makes the "18-Inch Journey" from our head to our heart, we'll find ourselves able to fully love others - because we are so fully loved.
I wish I had embraced this idea a lot earlier in my life because I spent so much time trying to please and be perfect. ( Probably related to some childhood issues but that would take too long to discuss-😂) . As I grew older I realized the freedom in being me, mistakes and all, and life became more meaningful. Fear of God as opposed to Fear of man actually allowed me to be the imperfectly perfect person God created me to be.
“We want people to be to be drawn to Jesus, not us” Amen!!!! most powerful sentence in this blog. Excellent post Denise.