Yes, I could have made better decisions, but then I wouldn’t have learned the lessons I needed to learn. I wouldn’t be the person I am now.
Yes, I could have chosen to do the hard thing instead of the easy thing, but then I wouldn’t understand the value of hard work and delayed gratification.
Yes, I could have chosen a different career path early on, instead of chasing a dream, but I wouldn’t have experienced what crushing defeat feels like. I would not know the importance of failing my way to success.
Yes, maybe I could have bypassed all of the obstacles, challenges and suffering moments of my life, but I would have no sense of compassion or empathy for others. I wouldn’t be an overcomer or a person of great fatih- to which I never, ever thought I would be. And most importantly, I wouldn’t know God the way I do.
To be sure, I never could have imagined all of the twists and turns my life has taken, the many ups and downs, the overwhelming grief I have endured at times. I could dwell on that and all of the “mistakes” I made over the years and seemingly lost opportunities. Or, I could bask in Romans 8:28 and lay these depressing thoughts to rest:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
I love this entire chapter in Romans, because he starts by talking about how there is no condemnation in Christ, then he moves into being led by the spirit instead of the flesh, then into how our present sufferings cannot compare to the future glory, and finally he lands on the 28th scripture. He capitalizes the whole chapter by reminding us that no matter what condemnation we may feel, or sufferings we face, God is going to work it all for our good. This is fantastic news and leads me to my next point……
The one thing I would have done differently, in light of Romans 8:28, is to trust God and actually believe this promise. I would let go of my need to be perfect in every situation, every decision I face and every task I undertake. I would have realized that I didn’t need to rake myself over the coals every time I messed up. I didn’t need to self-flagellate for making a dumb decision.
Oh gosh, I could have enjoyed my life SO MUCH MORE if I simply trusted God and what he said, realizing I wasn’t ever expected to be perfect and save myself. I mean honestly, isn’t that WHY Jesus came? God knew we couldn’t turn anything for good, let alone fix mistakes along the way, so he sent Jesus to do it for us. Oh, the weight of the world can just melt off of us as we meditate on that truth.
I don’t have to be perfect, but I do have to trust! You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to trust.
It’s not that we don’t try our best, we just don’t rely on ourselves to do the fixing or the understanding, or the perfection of a process.
I’m ready to live a more weightless existence, one in which I actually enjoy the Christian life I so often describe to others. Not full of restrictions for the sake of keeping up religious pretensions, but rather a full expression of devotion and unforced surrender to a completely trustworthy God that always has my best interest at heart.
Would you like to join me?? I know I can’t be the only one that’s ready to get off of the perfection roller coaster!
I pray that we all take comfort in a new way of seeing ourselves, not through the lens of a failure, but rather the lens of a Father that loves us unconditionally and promises to work all things out for our good!
Blessings!
