In a world that constantly pressures us to be flawless, it’s easy to feel like we fall short. But God’s Word reminds us that perfection isn’t what God calls us to—He calls us to faith, growth, and trust in Him. Our imperfections are not mistakes; they are opportunities for God’s grace to shine through us.
To me, one of the most comforting truths in Scripture is that God doesn’t expect us to be perfect—He expects us to be faithful.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul reminds us of God’s words:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Our weaknesses are not barriers to God’s work in our lives; they are the very places where His power is revealed. When we recognize our imperfections, we allow God to step in and do what only He can do.
It has taken me so long to reconcile this fact with my warped reality. To be honest, it can still be a daily struggle.
Many times, we compare ourselves to others, wishing we were smarter, more successful, or more put together.
But Psalm 139:14 reminds us:
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
God created each of us uniquely, with our own strengths and flaws, and He calls us to embrace who He made us to be. Our imperfections are not accidents at all; they are part of His design. Think about that for a moment. Our perceived imperfections are unique and designed with purpose. I often wonder what humanity would look like if we operated with this mindset. I imagine things would look much different.
Throughout the Bible, God uses imperfect people for His perfect plan.
- Moses doubted himself and struggled with speaking, but God used him to lead an entire nation out of slavery (Exodus 4:10-12).
- David made life-changing mistakes, yet he was called “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).
- Peter, one of my favorite examples, denied Jesus three times, but Jesus still built His church through him (Matthew 16:18).
If God only worked through perfect people, none of us would be qualified! But His grace is greater than our imperfections, and He uses us despite our shortcomings. God doesn’t need ANY of us to accomplish his plan, but still, He chooses to use us in spite of our sin, shortcomings, doubt, and self-loathing. For me, this realization is, at times, overwhelming. How can it possibly be that He would use me? But Jesus calls us to follow Him, not to be perfect.
Philippians 1:6 says:
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God is continually shaping us. Our journey isn’t about reaching perfection but about growing in faith, love, and trust in Him.
Instead of constantly chasing worldly perfection, we can rest in the perfection of Christ. He alone is perfect, and through Him, we are made whole.
God is always shaping and refining us. As my friend Stacey likes to say when life feels overwhelming and uncertain, “God is sifting,” and that’s a good thing.
Our imperfections are all part of His masterpiece.
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
Being “imperfectly perfect” means accepting that we are flawed but still deeply loved by God. Instead of wearing ourselves out on the hunt for unattainable perfection, we should strive to grow in faith and allow God’s grace to work in and through us.
I’ve worked in ministry for about ten years now, and I started out thinking I HAD to be perfect. I had to present myself a certain way, or people would figure me out. If I showed any weakness or vulnerability at all, everyone would know who I’ve been and who I am. Then, I read something that was truly life-changing: “Our strengths will impress people, but our weaknesses allow us to connect with people.”
It’s so, so true and something I put into practice almost every day.
The next time you feel like you’re not enough—the next time you start comparing yourself to someone else- I pray you remember this: God made you, He loves you, and He is working in you—even in your imperfections. And that makes you perfectly HIS!
Lynn Fulwider
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#lynnfulwiderblogs