Perfectly Imperfect

How many times do we, myself included, strive to show the world how perfect our lives may look on the outside? The perfect Facebook post to inspire your followers or the perfectly filtered Instagram picture, both which display just how much we have it together. But so often that is far from the truth. Very far. We are quick to post the exciting events going on in our lives, but beneath the surface are the day-to-day tests that life brings, decisions that need to be made, and endless demands. 

I admit, I plead guilty of this act of perfection. 

I often stray away from things that I believe I would be less than “perfect” at in fear of failure. I spend 30+ minutes putting the “perfect” outfit together and then another 10+ styling the “perfect” curls. {I write this in my "perfectly planned Starbucks outfit", which includes an unintended deodorant stain at the bottom of my dress. Not to mention the messy curls that this Charleston shower had no mercy on as I ran into Starbucks without my matching Vera Bradley umbrella to tie the outfit together. First world problems, right?}   I strive after that perfectly pinned “Home Sweet Home” board I created on Pinterest. And for what? To deceive others in thinking I have it all together? Friends, I most certainly do not have it all together. The danger in striving after perfection, is that it sets up for discouragement when we fail and leaves a void in our heart that longs for more when we finally reach this “perfection.” 

Accepting imperfection is a process. Each day, I’m learning it’s okay if I take a misstep. It’s okay if the plans I have been making change or don’t look the way I intended. God’s grace is sufficient for me, His mercies are made new every single morning. Life does go on. I’ve decided to take a new approach. Rather than striving after a “spirit of perfection”, I have chosen to strive for a spirit of excellence in all that I do. A spirit of excellence is one that leaves you confident that you left your best effort on the field. You can go to bed knowing you made the very most of your day and put your best foot forward. I’ve traded my mess of imperfect plans for God’s plan. I've traded my best for God's best. My best can only take me so far, but His best will take me to places I never could imagine. In His Word full of promises that never return void and never fail, He reminds me The plans of the Lord stand firm forever (Psalm 33:11) no matter how many times I feel as if I’ve messed them up. And when I think there’s no way for the “distorted plans” to turn into something beautiful, He reminds me “I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). 

Through my own imperfection God is able to show Himself 

STRONG where I am weak

MERCIFUL when I am in need of forgiveness

LOVING when I feel unloved 

PATIENT when I continue to make the same mistakes 

PEACEFUL in the midst of the chaos I’ve created in my life. 

I am perfectly imperfect. 

His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).