Imperfection

by Brandy Webb

I’m so grateful to have a loving, patient, forgiving, compassionate God because I am imperfect. One of my many imperfections is I sometimes speak before I think and my words runneth over. It is something that I will probably continue to strive to overcome, and I am grateful that God understands. He knows that “we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well” (James 3:2). Wouldn’t it be awesome to fully bridle your tongue, so that nothing foolish and non-edifying ever comes out?

My tongue is only one of my many obstacles that I strive to overcome. The truth is I’m imperfect and sometimes that is rather frustrating. It is really frustrating when I do something that I have to repent for, after the fact. I am so grateful God is God and not human because humans tend to hold grudges. God is willing to forgive and remove our sins as far as the east is from the west when we repent (Psalm 103:12). Also I have the hope that the Holy Spirit is working with me because it definitely shines light on the darkness that is in my carnal flesh. Paul understood the struggle when He points out that it is the flesh within us that desires to do evil (Romans 7:18). However, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and giving of the Holy Spirit, we now have the Comforter to help us serve the law of God.

I think of it as literally having light and darkness inside one vessel. The light is the Holy Spirit speaking words of truth and wisdom and the flesh is the darkness. The flesh “desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh” and they are in conflict with each other (Galatians 5:17). I read a really eye-opening statement that I will paraphrase: We have two lions inside us and the one we feed the most is the one that is the strongest. Jesus is called the lion of Judah and Satan is a roaring lion seeking to devour us, the two lions. I need to make sure I am “feeding” the correct one.

One thing that I know is that my imperfections are what make me humble. It points out that I cannot reach perfection without divine intervention. I need God’s help to overcome sin. I cannot make myself clean. It also shows the awesomeness of God because he purposely calls “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…so that no man may boast before God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

I can read my Bible and see the beautiful imperfect people who put their trust in God. They are my examples of hope that there is a chance for me. Yes, I run this race with fear and trembling. I do stumble sometimes and fall, but if I repent and turn to God, He will help me. Only through Him can I overcome, and one of these days, hopefully, I will be perfected. It won’t happen as long as I am still flesh, but it will eventually happen if I continue to put my trust and hope in Him.