– By Dana Rosser

 

I don’t know about you but I spend the majority of my waking hours trying to be perfect.

 

I’m not consciously thinking minute by minute that whatever is in front of me has to be perfect. I’m doing it subconsciously—which is even more frightening.

 

I feel like perfection is ingrained in my being.

 

Working hard to try and make things perfect for my husband, kids, family and friends, and just life in general is so exhausting.

 

What is it about “imperfection” that we find so distasteful? After all, who in this world is PERFECT?

 

The answer, of course, is no one. Yet we seem to be drawn to this standard of living that is really an illusion.

 

The definition of perfection is being entirely without fault or defect; satisfying all requirements. (Image via Pixabay)

The Bible states in 1 John 1:8, that if we say that we have no sins, we deceive ourselves, and the truth isn’t in us. So, if I interpret this right, it means that not only can I not attain perfection, but if I continue to think this way, that I’m a liar on top of it.

 

Basically, I’m lying to myself when I try to be perfect. Well, no wonder I feel so frustrated most of the time!!!!

 

The word also goes on to say in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one . . . .” Yes, that includes me, too.

 

So why does a reasonably intelligent person like myself think for one minute that these principles don’t apply to my life?  (aka an imperfect human being)

 

Media plays a big part in our desire to want to be “perfect.”

 

We see all the seemingly “flawless” looking models and celebrities living their “perfect” lives in their “perfect” homes and driving their “perfect” cars. (Image via Pixabay)

The truth is that their “perfect” outward appearance, more often than not, is altered by photoshop, plastic surgery, botox, lipo or, worse, all of the above.

 

The hustle and bustle of a celebrity life is not at all what it appears to be. The constant pressure to keep up a look that’s not real is more than one can bear . . . imperfect to say the least.

 

You see, we are nothing without Christ, but with him we are made perfect in God’s eyes. We have to stay connected to our source (Christ) in order to find the peace and happiness that our soul desires.

 

All we really want in this life is to be accepted for who and what we are. But we become afraid if that acceptance is threatened, so we act like . . . well, you know, like we are perfect, to mask the fact that we are not!!!

 

OMG how crazy is that?!? God has already told us that nothing can separate us from his love (acceptance), we just need to believe him!!! (Romans 8:38-39)

 

You know, someone once told me that you cannot have a testimony without a test. A test that you may or may not pass. Possibly an imperfect outcome.

 

Looking back, it has been those times when I have failed that I really found God’s purpose for my life . . . those rough times (imperfect) that I fought through and came out better on the other side . . . those times that really allowed me to speak with passion and depth about God’s grace and how he carried me.

 

Now that’s what I’d call a “PERFECT” testimony.

 

This post was written by author and speaker Dana Rosser.

Dana is the author of Thru Thick and Thin: Facing Obesity Thru the Eyes of a Loved One.