Letting Go of Perfection - Your Nightly Prayer - January 15th
Your Nightly Prayer
Audio By Carbonatix
By Peyton Garland, Crosswalk.com
Letting Go of Perfection
Your Nighly Prayer
by Peyton Garland
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
SOMETHING TO PONDER
I’m pretty sure I made a few reasonable New Year’s resolutions last January. I’m quite certain I’ve forgotten what they are. Humans are great at brainstorming ideas and launching projects, but humans aren’t as great at perseverance, especially when exhaustion, boredom, or both get in the way.
Granted, some of us hold tight to our resolutions and see wonderful change; I certainly don’t want to ignore those who have powered through a long year of self-discipline. However, as a whole, we don’t uphold bargains we make with ourselves, and if the results don’t honor the timeline we created, well, we get angry with the resolutions, as if they were people who had intentionally hurt us.
My therapist once shared that anger isn’t an immediate human emotion. Rather, it’s a byproduct of one of two immediate human emotions: sadness or fear. I believe this is our internal tussle with perfection. It forces both immediate emotions to the surface. We are fearful of failing at our resolutions, goals, dreams, etc., but we are also sad when we don’t meet the standards we set for ourselves. Thus, if we allow perfection to rule our hearts and minds, we are controlled by the impossible. We create cruel barriers that don’t allow God’s grace to bring us peace, no matter our performance.
No doubt, the pressure to pursue perfection will rarely let up. Whether it crept into your heart as innocent sibling rivalry or found its way to your soul’s doorstep as you competed for the best grades, top promotion, or best appearance as a wife, mother, or Christian, it’s hard to shake. The appearance of perfection promises acceptance and fulfillment. These are shiny accolades in a world that often feels harsh and lonely. However, on the other side of attempted perfection lies dashed expectations, exhaustion, and a sense of isolation from grace.
I often remind myself of this simple truth: grace and perfection can’t coexist. They don’t play well together because they are the ultimate dichotomy. If you choose the latter, you will be no stranger to tense relationships and fast-paced living without a sense of personal growth. After all, if perfection is quite impossible, the unicorn of a fallen world, how can it offer you anything, certainly character development? In short, perfection is your unicorn god, the impossible, non-existent goal that leaves you a slave to dissatisfaction.
However, if you choose the first, grace, you choose the freedom Christ offers. He is more attuned to human nature and our needs far more than we are. After all, He created and chose to live among us in the name of an empathy that makes Him the best kind of friend. He is the one who knows exactly what we need, which isn’t to chase perfection but to chase Him.
He is Perfection that destroys fear and heals sadness. Best of all, this offer is a free gift that we only receive when we surrender our false sense of perfection. In finding true Perfection, we are freed from chasing earthly perfection’s smoke and mirrors.
We are free despite our limitations and failures because the Creator has never demanded our perfection to reveal His divine plan for our lives. Our story has been written with our sins, ignorance, and failings already known.
This New Year’s, whether you make resolutions or simply have big goals and dreams, I pray you find comfort in accepting that there is no pressure to start or end your year flawlessly. I pray you discover through trial and (plenty of) error that you will like yourself and God so much more when you accept your limitations. You will know the beauty of Perfection only when you recognize that those failings are the key to Christ’s power unlocking the fulfillment that no list or personal achievement ever could.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
Thank you for choosing to be an intimate Savior, forever willing and thrilled to be our Perfection and sustain us despite our weaknesses. This New Year, may we seek your wisdom as we make our resolutions or begin new projects. May spiritual growth, not perfection, be our heart’s true desire.
In your holy name, King Jesus,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO PONDER UPON
1. What’s really driving your resolutions—grace or perfection?
Examine whether your goals this year are rooted in spiritual growth or worldly approval. One path frees; the other enslaves.
2. Do you give yourself the grace God already has?
God knows your weaknesses and never asked for perfection—only trust. What would change if you truly believed that?
3. Are you chasing Jesus or chasing performance?
Jesus doesn’t demand flawless effort. He invites you to find strength by depending fully on Him.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Liza Summer
Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.
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