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

Perfectly Imperfect | Finding Beauty in Our Brokenness

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Have you ever felt like your flaws and failures make you unworthy? Like, no matter how hard you try, you just can't measure up?

Imagine a piece of pottery that has been shattered. Instead of discarding the broken fragments, an artist carefully gathers the pieces and mends them with gold. The cracks don't disappear—they become the most beautiful part of the design. This is Kintsugi, a stunning reminder that brokenness isn't something to be hidden, but something to be embraced.

What if we saw our own imperfections the same way? What if, instead of striving for unattainable perfection, we allowed God to take our broken places and fill them with His grace?

Perfectionism isn't about healthy growth. It's an exhausting cycle of setting unrealistically high standards and tying our worth to performance. It often shows up as overthinking, harsh self-criticism, fear of failure, difficulty with grace, all-or-nothing thinking, struggles with finding peace, and feelings of guilt when you’re not “productive” enough. Sound familiar? If so, know that you're not alone.

Perfectionism disguises itself as excellence, but it keeps us in bondage. There's a distinct difference between perfectionism and healthy striving. Healthy striving allows room for mistakes, embraces growth, and fosters resilience. Perfectionism keeps us trapped in the fear of not being enough.

Throughout Scripture, we see that God doesn't choose the flawless—He chooses the willing.

Moses had a speech impediment and was a murderer, yet God called him to lead a nation. David failed morally, yet he was still called a man after God's own heart. Rahab was a harlot, yet she became part of the lineage of Jesus.

Their past didn't disqualify them. Their imperfections didn't make them unusable. God saw their brokenness and covered it with His grace, just like gold in Kintsugi. And He does the same for us.

The beauty of Kintsugi is that the gold doesn't erase the cracks—it highlights them. The flaws become the focal point, not to showcase brokenness, but to display His restorative power.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (TPT) reminds us: "But he answered me, 'My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.' So, I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I'm weak, I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me."

God's grace is the gold that fills our broken places. He isn't waiting for you to be perfect—He's inviting you to come as you are and allow Him to transform your life.

As you begin this journey, my prayer is that you'll let go of the burden of perfection and step boldly into the freedom of His grace. He's not asking for perfection—He's offering restoration. Will you let Him do His work?

Today’s Reflection:

• What cracks have you been trying to hide?
• How might God be inviting you to see them as part of your beautiful story?