If I could go through my day without making a single mistake, I'd be a superhero. I'd be so proud and feel so good about myself. But the truth is, I'm not a superhero. I mistakes every day. I'm not perfect. I'm prone to self-doubt and, in some ways, I'm an anxious perfectionist. And despite my flaws, there's a God who loves me perfectly, and who wants to help me be the best I can be.
You see, oftentimes, we find ourselves weighed down by the lofty standards we set for ourselves or the expectations of others, and it's true - our walk with Christ is meant to be one of constant growth and maturity. However, perfection is not a prerequisite for living a life in His grace, nor for exhibiting the virtues of being a good Christian woman.
In our shortcomings and mistakes lies the power of God's redeeming love, refining and reshaping us into who He has called us to be. We can let go of the pressure to have it all together (because this can be overwhelming) and recognize that being perfect isn't a must for God to see us as good.
We're all on a divine path to become more like Christ, and the beautiful thing about the journey is that God doesn't demand perfection; He desires authenticity. So, if you've ever felt the weight of trying to meet impossible standards, you can release this feeling and walk in the freedom of knowing that you have a God who loves you, flaws and all, and wants to work in you to make you more like Him.
We Don't Have to Seek Perfection to Be Good
Remember when Jesus walked this earth? He didn't seek out perfect people; He embraced the broken. He showed us that perfection isn't the measure of a good Christian. Rather, it's about our willingness to be real and vulnerable with our Lord.
As a woman of faith, you are called to a life of growth and maturity. You are called to be a faithful witness of Christ to the world around you, even when you make mistakes. Remember, the perfection we seek is not in ourselves but in our Savior.
Take a stroll through the Bible, and you'll find imperfect individuals whom God used mightily. Flawlessness was not their goal, and yet, in their brokenness, they were able to accomplish great things for God's Kingdom.
We weren't created to chase after perfection in order to earn a badge of honor or a stamp of approval. We are called to be willing vessels that God uses to bring His light into the world, which means we don't have to be perfect in order to be used.
Beauty is Found in Our Imperfections
Flaws are our inner weaknesses. Those things that we feel make us less than perfect or may be hard for us to change. We may see ourselves as having physical flaws, like an imperfection in our appearance, or a flaw in our personality, such as a lack of self-confidence. Flaws can also be spiritual flaws, like an attitude of apathy or a lack of faith.
No matter what type of flaw you may feel you have, the truth is our flaws are a result of our fallen nature. But, they are not who we are and we are not defined by them. There's no need to feel ashamed or that you aren't good enough in God's eyes. And that's the beauty of it.
We are all imperfect, but in our imperfections, we are beautiful. Your flaws can be used to show others the beauty of Christ's work in you. The fact that despite our imperfections, God can change us is what makes us so unique. God takes every one of our imperfections and uses them for His glory.
How does He do this? By working in us through the process of sanctification. This is the process of becoming more and more like Christ. As we continue to grow in our relationship with Him, He refines the areas of our lives that need to be changed and mold us into the image of Christ. We begin to see the beauty in our imperfections because we begin to see the beauty in His perfect design. The Lord is working in us to bring us to a place of wholeness in Him.
He uses our flaws to show us that He is all we need. He is the perfection we're seeking and we are complete in Him. God is the one who can fix us and make us beautiful on the inside and out.
If you're struggling to be perfect in your eyes, you can stop striving and know that you are beautiful and worthy in Christ. He wouldn't have created you to be a vessel if He didn't want to use you. You may have some broken areas that need to be fixed, but you can rest assured that He is working on them and will use them for His glory and your good.
Let Go and Be Real in God
Letting God work in you and through you is a beautiful process to becoming the good Christian woman He wants you to be. Feeling the need to be perfect is a heavy burden. But, you can set it down. Recognize those impossible standards you set for yourself.
Instead of being so hard on yourself, show some kindness and understanding. Take baby steps towards being true to who you really are, knowing that God adores the genuine you. He wants to walk with you and be your friend on this path of life. He wants you to find the beauty in your imperfections and be confident in His love, acceptance, and His work in you.
God sees your heart. He's not expecting you to be flawless; He's inviting you to be real. Let go of the need for perfection and embrace the grace God freely offers. You're a work in progress, and that's a beautiful thing.
Blessings,
Jessica
Jessica Frazier writes for the Sisters Growing Together community. Strengthen your faith and learn how to love your spiritual journey as you enjoy her online devotions. Join Jessica in the online women's community weekly for small-group Bible Study and Scripture Writing sessions.
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