Each week I am excited to share hope to those who are struggling by interviewing people who can vulnerably share what they have gone through and how God has seen them through. Today my guest is Michelle Rabon of Displaying Grace and author of Holy Mess: What it means to be a woman radically changed by the gospel. She encourages women to walk with Jesus through the messes of life.

This week on By His Grace we talk about the Struggle of Perfection. You can find that podcast episode here: Striving for Perfection Please Welcome Michelle Rabon author of Holy Mess: What it means to be a woman radically changed by the gospel

The Struggle of Perfection 

By Michelle Rabon

Martha heard that Jesus was coming and suddenly she set to her work. She busied herself with tasks that would surely please Christ when He came into her home. She wanted it all to be perfect before His sandals crossed the threshold of her house.  

Her heart to please Him wasn’t wrong, but it ultimately became the very distraction that kept her from sitting at His feet and hearing the truth He had to offer. Christ came to offer freedom from the burden of the law, the weight of perfection, and the yoke of sin. He did not come that we might remain in a furious state of trying to earn His love and grace. 

I love how the Message version articulates Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Getaway with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

It was as if this is what He was trying to help Martha understand when she came in furious about her sisters lack of help. Martha was worried over so many things that in the end didn’t matter. 

Our desire for perfection blinds us to beautiful opportunities to rest in Christ.

I wrestle with perfection, maybe I always will. I want things to be right, I want to please the people in my life and make them happy. But the truth I need every day is that I can rest in Christ, even when things don’t go right, or fall apart. I can lean on Him when even my best efforts fall short. 

The enemy wants us running after our own efforts more than Jesus, He wants us discouraged because he knows our efforts will always fail us. Mine certainly do. 

I need the truth that whispers, I am enough for you. Click To Tweet

We cannot truly attain perfection, nor can we get it all right – no matter how hard we work. Martha learned that there was something better on the other side of striving, it was resting – true rest in the Gospel alone. 

We must learn this too, the struggle of perfection seeks to keep us with busy schedules, but malnourished spiritually. When we rest in the finished work of the cross, the sufficient power of Christ who paid the price for our sins, and when we seek His will above our own, we will begin to see a light at the end of our struggle. We will rest as Mary did at the feet of Jesus and leave the things that can wait alone. 

This week we celebrated freedom on July 4th in America, but our true freedom comes when we walk in the fullness of Christ! Let’s celebrate the freedom of overcoming in Jesus.For a limited time only!!! You can claim a copy of The Struggle is Real: But So is GodThe Struggle is Real: But So is God Bible Study on sale for only 9.99 for the book and 4.99 for the e-book!!!

Thanks so much for joining us today! If you enjoyed this post then you may also like How to Trust God When Yo Battle Anxiety and Ginger Harrington: Graves Diseases and Anxiety Struggles.

Much Love,