In The Word #27: So You Aren’t Perfect, Huh? Great!!
Have you ever beat yourself up for not being able to BE enough, or DO enough, or SAY enough…whatever “enough” is? I know I have. Many, if not all, of us feel “less than” due to our imperfections. We compare ourselves to others. And worse, we compare ourselves to others on social media! Yikes!! We also compare ourselves to the illusion of what we think is perfect. I say “illusion” here because it is often not REAL at all. It is an image altered by technology or AI to transform it into what society has called perfect.
I know I have felt “less than” due to my imperfections and failures. I used to strive for perfection regularly. I hated to be wrong…at anything. And I was miserable in my striving, comparing, and negative self-talk. I was never content or joyful. I was always chasing something that would never happen in this lifetime…perfection. This constant striving for the unachievable caused great angst and stress…not just for me but for those around me too.
My husband and I often argue about the names of actors and actresses on TV and also what shows or movies they have been in before. And we never guess the same thing. I cannot let it go! I want to be right, and I want to prove it. I have to consult with Dr. Google in that very moment to confirm who guessed correctly….or should I say, perfectly. I remember one time I was wrong and my husband was right. (That doesn’t happen very often! 🙂). I admitted my error and my husband said, “Oh!!! That had to hurt!” He knows I want to be perfect…even at guessing!
As I have gotten older, I like to believe that I have gotten wiser. Not by my own account necessarily, but by the help of great counselors, wise counsel from friends and family, experience, and especially God’s Word. Our church’s sermon series for June/July 2026 was called Unlikely Heroes. I was encouraged to revisit the stories of God using the people who did not have-it-all-together to be the best people for His mission. Their imperfections actually made them the most influential and convincing leaders to complete God’s plans for His kingdom because in their weakness, the focus moved from them to God.
“God delights in using unlikely people so that His power, not their ability receives the glory.”
– Mark Sullivan, Pastor at White River Christian Church Hamilton North Campus
Some of these people include:
- Moses – Insecure leader – As a Jewish baby boy, he was saved from death and raised by Pharoah’s daughter. He was approached by God as an adult to deliver the Jewish people out of Egypt and the abuses of the Egyptian Pharoah while in exile in that county. In his past, he had murdered a man. He doubted himself to lead. According to theologians he likely had a speech impediment. He had no confidence that the people of Israel would listen to him. He begged God to send someone else to do His work. Yet, he finally obeyed and God was with him. (see Book of Exodus)
- Rahab – Redeemed outcast/prostitute – She was a Canaanite woman who was an innkeeper and prostitute in Jericho. She protected the spies of Moses. She eventually married an Israelite Salmon and was a named person in the lineage of Jesus. (Joshua 2-6; Matthew 1:5)
- Esther – Queen of Comfort – An orphan and Jewish girl named Queen of Persia who was used by God to help prevent the annihilation of the Jews. (Book of Ester)
- Mary – Young Nobody – A teenage girl who was approached by an angel to be named the mother of Jesus. She knew she could be stoned for being pregnant as an engaged woman to Joseph, but chose to do God’s will despite the dangers to her life. (Matthew 1, Luke 1)
2 Corinthians 12:9 – From the words of Paul…
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”
So Friends, this makes me and you the perfect people to be used by God. Rather than beat ourselves up for NOT being perfect, let’s change our perspective and rejoice in our imperfections like Paul. When we are weak, then God’s greatness in us can really shine. We become the perfect, imperfect person for His work. Yay!! Let’s celebrate and release all this stress and tension for not being who the world thinks we should be!
YOU ARE PERFECTLY, IMPERFECT! WHICH MAKES YOU A PERFECT WARRIOR FOR GOD’S WORK… JUST AS YOU ARE!!
PRAYER: ABBA, Father. You are perfect in all your forms as God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son Jesus. No one else and nothing else will ever be like You. Help me acknowledge and live into the fact that perfection is not the goal. Being YOUR servant is the goal and that is done best in my weakness for then Your greatness will shine. Lord, I want to be your vessel, your tool, your servant. Help me submit to You every day and moment of my life. To say, YES! To be obedient to You. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- What steps can you take to release the pressure of trying to be perfect?
- Who does God say you are?
- Read the scripture of the examples above and identify the challenges and weakness of each individual and write out how God overcame their weaknesses with His power.
Hugs and blessings,
Stacy
