Learning to be Perfectly Imperfect

by Texas Stready

Growing up in church I remember the parties and picnics, achievements and realizations, but what’s easiest to recall is the imperfection. Earthly systems suck. Especially religious ones. More often than not, they’re human attempts at graphing out a guaranteed victory. No such thing.

Science has proven it takes ten positives to undo one negative. Guess that’s why we find it so easy to remember the scriptures that tell us what’s wrong. Yes they’re true, but only half the truth.

In Romans 3:22-24 it tells of our inability to steer clear of sin, but it also repeatedly speaks of God’s provision for this problem. Romans 6:22-23 says sin brings death, but continues on to explain how listening to God will give us a whole, healed, put-together life— right now. That’s only two examples. There are hundreds.

You Better Recognize

Life ain’t easy. Not like anybody has to tell you that, right? Still, at times we need a reminder that we’re not alone in our frustration. No one’s perfect—that’s a fact—but focusing on this keeps contentment just outside of our reach. Easy to anticipate but impossible to attain.

As Christians we get caught up in the Perfection vs. Imperfection game. We battle with all our might but imperfection always wins the championship. Realizing this is sure to leave you with an ominous feeling of defeat. Who the heck wants to play on that team? Not Me. But somehow pride finds a way to slither in and strike us with the lust for an MVP trophy.

And we’re off…

Switch It Up

In February, I attended the National Religious Broadcasters Conference. Big deal for me. Because I’ve watched my 8 yr. old grandson operate with phenomenal expectancy for God’s assistance, I called him for prayer.

“Okay Nona,” he agreed. Silence. That’s all I heard. After a few seconds he reassured me, “You can’t hear me, but I’m praying.” I closed my eyes and lifted my hands believing to receive all he was asking God to give me.

When he finished, in a matter-of-fact tone, he declared “Okay Nona—go manifest it.”

The words he said were hysterical to me, until my Spirit man grabbed hold of his insight. Life in Christ requires we quit playing games with the negative and practice obedience until positive expectancy becomes our most valuable player. #manifestit

Defeat Negativity

In this country there are 40 million people who suffer from anxiety and depression. So, what number do you think the church should be in this ominous equation? A perfect ten. That’s what. If we hope to help, we must become the ten positives to their one negative.

Jesus didn’t speak of doom and gloom. Not His focus. Instigating fear is unnecessary. Circumstance can handle that job. I do believe it’s haphazard to leave out the facts. Life apart from Christ will cost you everything. Now, and for eternity.

The reality of separation from God becomes most clear to people when they see what connection to Christ looks like. You want to help someone else join the team? That’s how you learn to be perfectly imperfect. When you’re at peace with your flaws, you can be okay with what’s wrong with the rest of the world, and then the attention goes to the One who holds the universal record for perfection.

God’s grace is the best award we can win, and our enthusiasm about possessing it should cause such a stir that everybody around us is dying to be chosen by our Coach.