Living with Imperfection

I’ve had to face the reality over the years that, at times, I have struggled somewhat obsessively with wanting either things, or myself, to be perfect. With possessions, that has shown itself in wanting and trying to preserve them in their new condition, somehow struggling with the reality that they wear out or become spoilt as they are used. With myself, perfectionism has resulted in my being harsh and critical of myself for falling short of my own or others’ high standards.

For my last birthday, my wife Gemma bought me a new laptop. I was very pleased with it and gave the supplier a good online review, but, after only a few weeks, a fault developed in the screen display. I had to return the laptop by post, and, after five days, received it back with a new screen fitted. You can perhaps imagine my disappointment when, after only a few more days the new screen kept going blank as I used the laptop. Yet again it was returned to the supplier, this time with a request that they send me a new one as a replacement. I couldn’t face yet more reinstalls of Windows 10! Thankfully I received a replacement within a few days and began what I thought would be my final setup and install of my favourite software and applications. After a day spent doing just that, guess what? I noticed that the battery charge level wasn’t displaying correctly at the bottom of the screen. I contacted the supplier again, who now offered to look at the replacement laptop they had sent me. At this point I came to a decision. I wouldn’t return the laptop again, and I would live with what was a minor imperfection in a computer that was running perfectly in all other respects.

My experience above has been something of a reminder to me of what our verse today tells us. There is a limit to achieving our desire for perfection in our life in this world, whether it be with material things or ourselves, but the good news is that there is no limit to God’s perfection and our life in Him. He is absolutely perfect and the mind-blowing truth is that, when He looks at us, who are in Christ, He sees no flaw in us. He sees the righteousness of Jesus His Son. The Apostle Paul wrote to a bunch of imperfect Christians in Corinth, encouraging them that God’s power is made perfect in our human weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). One day we will experience the full reality of being made perfect in God’s presence, faultless and with great joy, but, until that day, we are on an adventure with Jesus, being transformed into His likeness through life’s ups and downs.

Prayer: Lord, I come to You. Let my heart be changed, renewed, flowing from the grace that I’ve found in You. And, Lord, I’ve come to know, the weaknesses I see in me, will be stripped away, by the power of Your love. (Geoff Bullock). Amen.