One of the most precious women I have ever known, Nikki Richnell for my Houstonian friends, came to my house for lunch last week. As always, she was dressed to the nines and was just as adorable as ever. We sipped tea while waiting on other guests, then Nikki excused herself to the bathroom.
When Nikki returned to the group, she burst out laughing and showed us her shoes. Both shoes were mighty cute, but they didn’t match. Needless to say, we shared in her laughter!
Being human means being imperfect. As put together and lovely as Nikki is, she is still human and subject to the fallen, imperfect nature. The same is true for each of us. We hide the imperfections so well through pretty clothes, make up, hair, and polished language. We desperately try to hide the brokenness underneath the surface and save those places for the people we love most — think husband and children.
What if we looked at our imperfections or the broken parts of ourselves in a different way? What if they are the very things that drive us to Jesus. The power in Jesus is His power to save, heal and restore. My favorite story in the Gospels is of the woman with the hemorrhage for 12 years (see Mark 5:24-34). This woman had tried every avenue to get healing from her disease, but there was no relief. At the end of herself, she risked everything to pursue the healing of Jesus. There is no doubt that her efforts were rewarded. Not only did the bleeding stop, but this woman had Jesus look her straight in the eyes and commend her faith.
Friends, we are imperfect. We make silly mistakes like wearing two different shoes, and we make huge mistakes. Our bodies are finite; our hearts are fickle; our minds wander. Thankfully, our God is a God who loves us in the midst of our imperfections. Can we see our imperfections and brokenness as the gifts that drive us to Jesus? Can we go after Him as if He is our only hope? Can we see being at the end of ourselves as a gift?
Go after Jesus! He sees you; He sees me. He sees beyond our masks, facades, fancy clothes and great rhetoric. “The Lord rejoices over us with singing” even when we are wearing two different shoes (Zeph 3:17).