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We see flaws, God sees a Masterpiece

I’m not sure if I’ve been able to successfully do this yet, but my goal really is to cause people to think about God in unconventional ways – in such away that they come to realize that our spirit is not some disconnected part of us that we only need to feed every once and a while on Sundays.

Instead it is our very being – it is who we really are underneath our skin – it is the part of us that desires to have a relationship with God. When we allow our bodies to dictate what we do, instead of our spirit, that causes an inner turmoil and a void that we try our best to fill with food, television, cars, computers, diamonds and a multitude of other things.

I want people to see that a relationship with God is not some optional, extra part of our lives. No it’s not extra, it is essential – it is like the air we breath – without it our spirits suffocate, wither and die. We also can’t pick and choose which parts of ourselves we want to give to him.

He wants us to give him every part of us – even the flawed parts that we are ashamed of. Yes, He wants it all.

I struggled with giving God my flawed parts for years.

I was shy as a child and because I was poor and wore hand-me-down clothes, was often the subject of jokes and elementary school pranks. That’s why when I became an adult I was so set on displaying a perfect exterior. My hair had to be just right, I had to be wearing the right clothing and the right shoes and be seen with the right people. I didn’t want anyone to think I was less than perfect, so I never admitted my mistakes, I instead kept them hidden – I didn’t want anyone to know that underneath my fierce exterior, lie a feeble little timid girl. I often resented the fact that I was so shy to the point that I was always overcompensating to get attention in other ways.

Needless to say, I was pretty annoying to be around because I always had to be right, always had to win everything, had to have the best grades, had to make the most money, had to have the best of the best of the best!

I failed to realize, however, that God had made me exactly how He wanted me – he placed me in my parents’ care so that I could develop just the right combination of personality traits and characteristics.

Yes, He had made a shy masterpiece, not the flamboyant flawed mess I tried to create. He wanted to use me just the way I was because He knew that would make me treat others more gently and kindly. It took me a long time to accept that. Once I did, I came to realize that God does His greatest work on flawed pieces – it makes His glory even more evident. That’s why we’re fascinated when we see a blind person play the piano like a saint or an armless-legless man give a motivational speech about getting up (youtube).

My goal here is to help others realize that since God made us, He knows all about us – about things we keep secret from everyone else. He wants us to stop holding it back from Him, no matter what it is. If it’s an alcohol or drug addiction, He wants us to bring it to Him so that we might be delivered from it. If it’s sex or some other sin, He wants us to own up to and stop letting that keep us separated from Him.

If you’ve ever said, “when I stop doing such-and-such, I’m going to go back to church…” that’s a hint that you need to stop waiting until you get yourself perfected and take your flawed self to church! First of all you’re never going to fully get your self together – you can’t not without His help. Second of all, you don’t know if you even have that kind of time. I’m sorry to repeat this overused phrase – but it shouldn’t be a newsflash that tomorrow is not promised to you.

I want you to know that every aspect of you is already known – even those things you only do when you’re alone – you can hide them from your family and friends, but that’s about it.

I want you to know that God’s arms are opened wide. He loves you deeply in spite of what you see as a flawed and selfish being. He loves us tremendously and that’s why I write, because everyone should be able to know and feel how joyous it is to be blessed and highly favored by God. It’s an overwhelming feeling that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 (KJV)

So what are you having a difficult time turning over to God? What habits or issues do you think you need to clean up before you can start getting closer to Him? Stop waiting until you get it together, and let the one who made you worry about all that.

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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