Perfectly Imperfect | Discovering Grace When Perfect Isn’t Possible, a 7-Day Devotional by Jacques McNeilNäide

The Turning Point

Romans 12:2 (TPT) “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.”

We live in a culture that glorifies perfection and praises success, no matter the cost. For years, I lived by the mantra, "Failing is not an option." I believed that if I worked hard enough, planned well enough, and pushed myself to the limit, I could avoid failure altogether. But then I came across a story about Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, that completely shifted my perspective.

Each night at dinner, her father would ask her and her brother, "What have you failed at today?" His reasoning was profound - if they weren't failing, they weren't pushing boundaries or attempting something new. They weren't growing.

This revelation struck me deeply. Could it be that my fear of failure was actually limiting God's work in my life? As this truth settled in my spirit, I realized my mind needed profound renewal – a transformation from perfectionist thinking to embracing the mind of Christ.

I began studying biblical accounts of those who had failed yet persevered in faith. These stories became my daily bread, teaching me that failure wasn't final—it was formative.

But just like any good instructor, God doesn't just teach—He tests.

My test came on the first day of a new job when I woke up with my jaw swollen to the size of a tennis ball. Within days, this developed into TMJ—lockjaw—that lasted eight painful weeks.

During this challenging season, I was required to take a certification exam. Despite the discomfort, I took it with confidence, only to receive the news that I had failed.

Instead of letting that failure upset me, I leaned into the lessons God had been teaching me. Rather than giving in to defeat, I chose resilience. I studied, prepared, and tried again.

But then it happened again - I failed!

My friend, I wasn’t just disappointed—I was devastated. The embarrassment hit hard, and shame wrapped itself around me like a heavy blanket I couldn’t shake. That inner perfectionist voice? Oh, it was loud. “This is catastrophic! How could you let this happen?”

A few days later, I went to lunch with a colleague. As we chatted, she casually asked, “Hey, did you get your test results back?”

Whew. I froze for a second. I had a choice right then—hide behind the shame or lean into honesty and let the grace in. So, I took a deep breath and simply said, “Yes… I did. And I didn’t pass.”

To my surprise, she smiled warmly and said, “Oh, girl, you’re not alone. I didn’t pass either.”

In that moment, something broke loose. The shame started to lift. I realized I wasn’t alone and didn’t have to carry the weight of perfection anymore.

The freedom I felt in that moment is unexplainable. Simply admitting my failure out loud released me from the weight of shame.

Eventually, I took the exam a third time and passed. But the real victory wasn't passing the test. It was learning that failure is not the end of the story. It doesn't diminish my worth or God's love for me.

Romans 5:3-5 reminds us that “suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Failure and embracing mistakes teach you resilience. They develop endurance, deepen your character, and strengthen your hope.

The enemy wants to use failure to discourage and disqualify you. But God wants to use it to develop and refine you.

So, the next time you fall short, instead of seeing it as the end of the world, ask yourself: What is God teaching me through this? Because in Him, failure is never wasted.

Today’s Reflections:

• What new adventure might God be inviting you to attempt, now that failure has lost its sting?
• Where do you need to extend grace to yourself in areas where you've been demanding perfection?