We will make mistakes. For me, it’s a tough thing to process. See, I’m a perfectionist. I’m a work in progress when it comes to not being perfect, but present. When I make a mistake, I can beat myself up over it for days, months and in some instances, years. As my husband likes to remind me when I get into one of these ruts, there was only one perfect person to walk on the earth and it isn’t me.
Where does this drive to be perfect some from? I believe it comes from the desire to be God. Yup, I said it. We are created in God’s image. In Genesis 1:27 (NIV) it says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Being created in God’s image is an amazing gift but it can also be a curse this side of heaven. The curse part comes when instead of humbling myself before Him, I want to be Him. See, if I can control my life, my circumstances, then I have no need for God. I don’t need to rely on anyone or anything to make my life go smoothly. I yearn to be perfect because maybe if I’m perfect from this point forward, I’ll make up for past mistakes.
I also use my perfectionist tendencies as a weapon against those around me. I hold myself to a high standard, which is usually unattainable to begin with, and those around me to an even higher standard. It’s not a pretty picture. I expect those around me to fit into my version of being perfect, rather than let them be who they are and the journey God is taking them on. In other words, I’m taking over God’s role not only in my life, but in the lives of others as well.
When I start thinking like this, my life begins imploding and I make huge mistakes. The kind of mistakes where I fall on my face in epic fashion. (FYI – I literally have fallen on my face multiple times in my life and have eight stitches under my eye to prove it.) So, what do we do with mistakes?
I’ve discovered, mistakes matter. God allows them to serve a purpose in our lives if we are open to the correction. I believe it’s for three reasons: drawing us closer to Him, showing us a need for a Savior, and putting us on the correct path.
1. Drawing us closer to Him. There is an old saying, there are no atheists in foxholes. While many of us will never know the fear of sitting in a foxhole during war, the mistakes in our lives can feel like we are at war with ourselves and others. Whether we are having a foxhole conversion in a time of crisis or slowly making our way back to God when we see the error of our ways, it’s still drawing us back to God, our Savior, which leads me to my next point.
2. Showing us a need for a Savior. See, if I continue in my perfectionist ways, then I have no need for anyone else, not even God. The awesome thing about God is He lets me go my own way, but he continues to call me back. He loves us so much He will not let us go. He forgives and forgets time after time. He loves us with a passion and refuses to let us go astray for too long, which leads me to my last point.
3. Putting us on the correct path. Our mistakes could be leading us to exactly where God wants us to go. I’ve seen over the years, while reviewing some major mistakes, I see God putting me on the correct path. The He has called me to and created uniquely for me. He has a unique path for you too. I have no idea what the future holds or what other amazing mistakes I’ll create for myself, but I know God will use those mistakes.
In Romans 8:28, (NLT) it says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” No matter how much we mess up, God can use it. Our biggest mistake, can be God’s greatest glory. Our biggest mistake, can become our ministry and provide an awesome testimony to God’s forgiveness and grace.
Here’s the beautiful thing, God knows everything. He knows the mistakes I’ve made and the ones I’m going to make, but He still loves me with an everlasting love. He loves you with this same type of love.
Have you ever seen your mistakes matter? Share them in the comments below to encourage others.