This is a repost of an old post.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24)

Today? There is no need to try so hard, to be perfect and to get it all right.

I know — there are all these expectations (mostly set by you) and long to-do lists. People to see and needs to meet. There are things you need to learn; habits and attitudes you need to unlearn. There are battles to fight, fears to face, mountains to climb.

But today? Yeah, you do not need to try so hard to get it all right.

We can count on Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, who will present us faultless before the presence of His glory. Oh, we will fall short and fail — over and over again. But God does not look for perfection. He wants faithfulness. Honestly, it is so important to distinguish between these two, perfect and faithful. When we strive to be perfect, it is usually just that — we strive, we do it in our own strength. Faithfulness means we do our best but we look to God when we stumble and fall. We ask for His forgiveness and receive it, and He equips us for a better next try. We look to Him for strength, and He will help us and strengthen us.

There is another promise in this verse as well. Not only is the Lord able to keep us from stumbling but He will present us faultless before the presence of His glory — and He will do it with exceeding joy. This here, it gets me. We give the Lord our sinful hearts, our mistakes and failures, our shortcomings and weaknesses — and He promises to present us faultless before the presence of His glory. Not only that, He will do it with exceeding joy.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)

So this week? There is no need to try so hard to be perfect. Yes, aim to be faithful with all that has been given to you by the Lord. But leave the notion of needing to be perfect aside.

The Lord is merciful and gracious; He will give grace and glory. He sees you where you are, He sees how hard you are trying to be perfect for Him. God sees your faithfulness in the little things, and He will equip you with strength to be faithful in the greater things, as well. God does not want perfection; no, He wants you to lift up your eyes and look to Him. To bring your all to Him, to choose Him and believe His promises.