pursuit over perfection.
“The thing about our JOURNEY is not about PERFECTION, but rather our effort! What we put in, is what we get out of it.”
I felt this on a deeper level, especially early on my spiritual journey. Some years ago when I gave my life back to Christ, I felt that I had to be perfect before God right away (even though I knew there was no such thing as Perfect People as Natalie Grant reminded us) but I somehow convinced myself that this was how He wanted me to be, how He needed me to be. We can have another [long] blog post of what exactly perfection is, who determines that and blah, blah, blah. But in all honesty I did what I believe most new and sometimes non-believes do is look at the lives and fruit of others and say “I want THAT!”
I saw a friend of mine worshiping freely at the altar one day with her hands raised and tears rolling down her face. I wondered what it was like to meet and God in that way. I wanted THAT! Granted, I had no clue the costs she had to pay to get to that place of surrender (and I now know to be careful what you ask for!) but sheesh, I wanted that like overnight! (ha! No surprise, right?! This is the generation we live in - most all of us want things quickly if we can help it. Thanks Jeff Bezos!) This was about six years ago. I still had a lot of maturing to do - both in the natural and in the spiritual.
I’m grateful God doesn’t leave us when times get rough, cause man, did they?! The pursuit, the journey is difficult, it’s challenging! Over time I learned that in the pursuit is where you’ll feel the most alone. It’s where you’ll feel the most pain, where you feel like you suffer more than those around you. But Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” and Romans 5:3 says “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produces perseverance.” So yeah....there’s a benefit to all of this!
*now is a great place to let out a huge sigh of relief*
If you know me, you know I am super big on us believers sharing our journeys, the transparent way! Not just the way with the roses and butterflies but the version where we were on the floor crying and the one where we doubted God because those are real! We’ve all experienced that on some level in our pursuit!
And I will be the first to admit that I think we don’t do a good job at giving the full version sometimes during altar call. Some intercessors or pastors just tell you of all the benefits of having God on your side - which is GREAT and 100% true but it’s in the pursuit where you will find Him most! (just my opinion!)
It’s in the pursuit where you will get to know Him more intimately!
It’s in the pursuit where you will find your true heart’s desires - not what you thought you wanted for your life!
It’s in the pursuit when you realize that perfection was never really the goal but rather the unwrapping of yourself everyday.
It’s in the pursuit when you get to meet him! Teary eyed, arms lifted and worshiping freely...I will take pursuit over perfection any day. It’s the effort for me.