Even in Our Imperfections

READ: PSALM 139:13-16; EPHESIANS 3:17-19

Lately I have had one skin issue right after another. Just when one blemish starts to fade and I start to feel better about my appearance, another appears on my face. As I was thinking about how imperfect I feel and how I can never seem to have flawless skin, I started thinking about how God accepts us, with all of our imperfections, and loves us fully.

Acne issues? God sees you as beautiful. Can’t stop worrying? God sees your concern and wants to help you with your burden. Struggling with a sin? Even in your temptation and sin, God loves you and cares about you. He will help you.

We are never going to be perfect, in any way, until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Not in our appearances and not in our thoughts, words, or actions. We mess up on a daily basis. Even when we’re striving to love like God loves us, we fail. Not only do we sin, but we experience skin issues and illnesses too. We feel down about the way we look. We can’t be everything that we want to be. Yet, we are always going to be wholly, fully, incredibly loved by our God. He is with us, and He promises to one day put an end to all our suffering and struggles. And even now, He sees past any imperfections we have and accepts us. • Emily Acker

• Throughout the Bible, we see God’s great love and care for us—a love that does not change based on our sins, our struggles, our appearance, our accomplishments, or anything else. It was because of God’s love that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us—so now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is forgiven, brought near to God, and has the hope of being transformed more and more into Jesus’s likeness until the day we are finally perfected at Jesus’s glorious return (Philippians 1:6). If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page.

• What do you consider your biggest flaw? How do you think God sees that flaw? Remember, He as compassion on you, and your flaws don’t affect the love that He has for you, not one bit.

• When you see the imperfections of others, do you ever feel that they are beyond God’s love? It’s normal to feel this way sometimes. Yet, how can remembering God’s love for you, despite your imperfections of all kinds, affect the way you see others? (Romans 15:7)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)