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Baking in a tropical climate was very frustrating. That was one of my assigned tasks at the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) base in Belize, a few years ago. I had just mixed up a double batch of Snickerdoodles, but the dough didn't look right. It was supposed to be rolled into little balls. However, it wouldn't roll at all. Without really thinking it through, I added extra flour, then put the dough into the fridge to chill. Finally, the flattened balls were lined up on the cookie sheet to bake.
Next challenge: wedging the large, warped cookie sheets into the ancient gas oven, even though my husband had banged on them to make them fit. The cookies seemed to take forever to bake. When they cooled, I sampled them. Not that great. I plunged into dismay. Couldn't I even bake a simple batch of cookies successfully?
I expressed my discouragement to the staff member in charge of volunteers. “The cookies weren't perfect!” I wailed.
Holding out her hand, she said, “Give me the cookies.” I soundly slapped her hand in a kind of upside-down high five. That was supposed to be a symbolic gesture to release the imperfections of the cookies, and not take on condemnation over my supposed lack of baking skills. I still felt glum, though.
At the swimming pool, my favourite place to relax, I swam back and forth, not really thinking about anything. Finally, reaching the edge of the pool, I gave up the repeating thoughts in my mind. Ok, God, I know You still love me even though I make mistakes. Thank You for that.
Instantly, peace washed over me.
I've struggled with the issue of perfectionism all my life. My parents loved me, but had high expectations for my academic achievement. They counted on my being at the top of the class, but I sometimes struggled with certain concepts. On the contrary, God loves me just the way I am. I don't have to reach a standard of achievement for Him to love me more. I don't have to strive for approval. He already approves of me. I have to remind myself of these facts over and over.
But wait! Doesn't the Bible speak of perfection? Matthew 5:48 - “But you are to be perfect, even as your father in heaven is perfect.” (NLT). None of us can be without flaw or sin, but we can work towards being more like Jesus, who was perfect. We certainly can't achieve this ideal all at once. As we go through different levels of maturity, the Lord expects different behaviours from us. We don't expect the same behaviour from a child as we do of an adult, who has had more time to apply wisdom to his or her life.
One day, however, we will be like Him. “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” ( I John 3:2 NLT)
Let's not get hung up on man's standard of perfection, but endeavour to be more like Jesus, who was perfect in all ways.
Thank You, Lord, for loving us just the way we are. May we strive to be more and more like You, until we are together with You forever. Amen.
Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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