“God’s grace fills in the gaps of all that you are not.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 27, 2022
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Years ago, I read a newspaper headline that made me chuckle: “Red Lipstick Empowers Women.” The caption, coupled with a photo of Marilyn Monroe wearing a white flowing dress and painted crimson lips made me consider my work challenges. That’s been my problem all along! I snickered. I’ve been wearing champagne pink!
I’m kidding, but isn’t that what we all want–just to be a little more empowered–or beautiful, or intelligent, or winsome or whatever? Isn’t there something in us that longs for perfection?
Ever since the Garden of Eden, humanity has been aching for the flawless life we were originally created for. And we’re so intent on recapturing it, that we’ll try to find it anywhere–even in lipstick.
However, I’m sure you’ve noticed we have a problem. Perfection is nowhere to be found on this planet. Sure, we get glimpses of it in a baby’s smile, a friend’s embrace, or God’s majestic mountains. But when it comes to finding it in ourselves, I’m afraid we won’t see it in our reflection until we get to heaven. Unfortunately, if we insist on being perfect, it will birth a child called shame.
Shame is nasty because it keeps us from enjoying the fruit of our labor. It’s like a man who can’t be happy with his income because he compares himself with his friend Bob who earns six figures. Or it’s like a woman who is unable to relish in the ten pounds she lost because she’s obsessed with comparing herself with her size 2 friend.
Shame robs our best moments of accomplishment or our best God-given traits because we’re never quite good enough or quite perfect enough–we never quite arrive. Even if what we’ve accomplished or who we are produces some satisfaction, we can’t fully enjoy it because shame prevents us from pulling up to the banquet table to feast on joy.
God’s grace provides an answer. Grace is more than forgiveness; it’s about receiving His redemption, acceptance, and restoration in our imperfection. It’s about thanking God for filling in the gaps for all that we are not. It’s embracing the truth that we will not do everything perfectly, but that God will perfect what we do. It’s about embracing life’s imperfections and being okay with them.
Are you wishing that you were more this or more that? Is it time to let it be okay that everything isn’t perfect, that you aren’t perfect, and that this side of heaven, embracing imperfection is all about embracing God’s grace?
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”(1 Corinthians 15:10).
Prayer
Lord, thank you for my imperfections and thank you for life’s imperfections. Your grace and power shine in them. Help me to celebrate all that I am not so that you can be more evident in my life. Amen.
Application
Do you struggle with perfectionism? Is it time to thank God for all that you aren’t so that His grace, goodness, and perfection shine through you?
Related Reading
Numbers 6:24-26; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:9
Worship Resource
Steven Curtis Chapman: His Strength is Perfect
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