A Prayer to Embrace Imperfection
Written and read by Lia Girard
Bible Reading:
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. — Romans 3:23-24
Listen or Read Below:
Oddly enough, isn’t it actually a good feeling to be humbled? To sort of fall away from a place where blind spots may have led you? Granted, it can hurt when someone points out where I’ve messed up, but it also protects me from hopping on a high horse to nowhere good. Being made aware of my own shortcomings isn’t shameful. Admitting when I stumble or embracing life challenges that feel less than perfect are all opportunities to grow spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Especially while navigating a world that frightens so many of us with impossible standards of beauty, brilliance, and success.
For Christians, the concept of “perfection” can be tempting, because we’re all striving to learn how to love one another better. It can also be confusing when in Matthew 5:48, Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount with, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Thanks to human imperfection, the word “perfect” used here in our modern Bible translation was “teleios” in the Greek version. This original word does not mean to be as perfect as God, but rather to mature in pursuing a goal.
The truth is, as Romans 3:23-24 reminds us, not one of us can achieve perfection on Earth. We all fall short of God’s glory. Every human is created with the propensity for sin, and we are all created with vastly differing characteristics. I believe our struggle with pursuing perfection is part of God’s perfect plan. It exists to guide each one of us to receive His love and redemption, profess faith, confess sins, and realize that only Jesus is perfect. It’s His perfect love that reconciles us to God.
In this relationship, you and I can try to live in ways that demonstrate our understanding of Jesus’ perfection. We can check for the plank in our own eye, invite God to search and cleanse our hearts, and ask for God’s mercy with a repentant heart. But not one of us will ever be Jesus—or someone else’s savior. Growing in this self-awareness can be tricky territory. Because, as Isaiah 14:13-14 reveals, the father of lies claims he will exalt himself above God. And Satan is still prowling like a lion, looking for people lured by self-glorification.
It’s easy to wonder… why can’t we just achieve sinless perfection? I believe it’s the fortunate condition of having been blessed with free will. Remaining “imperfect” may be one of the best examples of true love. It’s proof that love is something we choose—not something we automatically, perfectly slide into. Love is an exercise of free will. You and I can choose to let the perfection of Jesus cover, heal, and right our imperfections. We don’t have to expect to reach perfection, because that suggests we don’t need God’s help with our purposely imperfect lives.
So why don’t we let go of the illusion of perfection, which may lead us to ignore or cover up places that need God’s grace? Let’s instead welcome the ongoing practices of honesty and humility. This way, we can enjoy maturing in our faith, rather than being fooled by flawlessness.
Let’s Pray:
Dear God, it’s never easy to face the feeling of imperfection. In fact, I don’t even like the word imperfection. Because it sort of implies that I can somehow reach perfection by fixing myself on my own. I know you made me on purpose, and that I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else because we are all unique creations. So, God, please help me understand that there is no human standard for “perfect.”
Help me remember that my propensity for sin gives me the opportunity to ask to see with your eyes. It allows me to receive your forgiveness and grace, which equips me to show compassion to others. Don’t let me be misled by the word “perfect,” because only you are perfect. Instead, help me to happily and humbly be a work in progress—directed, healed, and matured in your loving hands.
I love and thank you. Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: PetarPaunchev from Getty Images via Canva Pro
Lia Girard is a seasoned writer and voice artist who formerly served as the Faith Editor for Crosswalk.com. She is the author of Wisdom at Wit’s End: Abandoning Supermom Myths in Search of Supernatural Peace, and enjoys spending time with her husband and grown children or walking in the woods with God.
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
