Today, we are blessed to have my buddy Jennifer Watson share some words of wisdom in her guest blog. Jennifer is a powerful speaker and a prolific writer, but even more than that, she loves the Lord with all of her heart and that love shines through in all that she does. I hope her blog ministers to you as much as it did to me.
I’m not exactly sure when I released my death grip on perfection, but when I did the floodgates of my heart opened and made room for better space. I was trying to be good at everything…I mean, everything. Yet, I was missing the sweetest parts of who God designed me to be. I was spinning my wheels so fast thinking I was doing noble and godly things. And I was, but I wasn’t doing the right things.
I was chronically distracted and dissatisfied. Trying to be good at everything meant I wasn’t really good at anything because my life was undone and unfinished.
I realized I wasn’t listening to God at all because I was too preoccupied by my fears and what ifs. By trying so hard to please others, I drifted further from my God given purpose.
You know those people you are trying so hard to please? They can’t see the real you if you are too busy trying to be the perfect version of yourself. The messy you is pretty spectacular. That woman who messes up and laughs at herself? Be that woman; she’s much easier to like.
I’m starting a new adventure in my life and to be honest with you, I’m scared to death. I’m wondering if I’ll feel “mom guilt” from working so hard and being gone more. I’m worried that I’ll be too tired to flirt with my husband. I’m worried that my stress-acne will never clear up and that I’ll have to buy zit cream until I’m sixty-five. I’m worried that I’ll become that annoying woman once again, the one who is trying to be good at everything and ending up miserable.
But, I can’t focus on all the ways I could fall short during this season of transition. I’m not going to be able to do it all, so I’m taking that off the table. I’m taking it one day at a time and figuring it out as I go.
Because of God’s great love and grace, I now understand that we don’t have to be perfect; we just have to be available. We have to see ourselves as good enough because that’s exactly how God sees us.
In Proverbs 31:17-18, we see that when a woman wears strength, she perceives what she has to offer is good. Putting on strength is a choice I make daily; strength to chase away the fears and unrealistic expectations, strength to trust God and strength to accept that my imperfect best is good.
As a result, I only have two goals right now: show up and be faithful. I’m totally available for however God wants to use me. And that will always be good enough.
