This just in: I am not perfect! In fact, I’m imperfection at its best.  There I said it, I admit it. I know, shocking news. Go ahead and let that sink in for a minute. I’m sure that thought is hard to handle. Some days, it’s still hard for me to swallow. Particularly on the days that I really feel like I’m letting someone else down. Did you catch that? Letting someone else down. When did my life become about what someone else thinks? Unfortunately, I think it’s been that way for a while.

I don’t always say what I’m thinking, because what if I’m wrong and look stupid. I don’t dance, because I’m afraid someone else is watching me and I’m just kind of bad at it. I will change ten times and end up in something a little less comfortable because it’s more “in style” than the jeans I was more comfortable in; I guess I’m hoping to hear “you look great today”. Sometimes, I’ll even sing the song that I sound better singing instead of the one with the best message. I tend to back off from trying something new, because I like to stick with what I already know I’m good at. Again, what if I look stupid? What I’m not enough? I’ll even sometimes make life-altering decisions based on whether or not it’s living up to someone else’s expectations of me. I know that’s kinda sick isn’t it? I’m betting, on some level, you do that too—live your life based on what someone else is thinking.

I’m also willing to bet you spend a great deal of time evaluating someone else’s world too, don’t you? We girls are particularly good at it. (Ahem, that’s not a compliment, ladies.)  One of the first things we’re taught in life is how, as a young lady, we’re to dress. As we get a little older, we’re taught how to wear make-up and look our best. The world of marketing thrives on appealing to our desire to be our best. Who decided what “best” is? I don’t know where it started, but I know where it ends. It ends with us believing that we’re not tall enough, thin enough, or blonde enough. Our teeth aren’t white enough, our skin isn’t tan enough. We’re not enough. Therefore, our conversations are somehow often built around other people not being enough. “Did you see what she was wearing?” “Who cut her hair like that?” “Her legs are too white to wear that black skirt.” “Please explain to me how she got on tv with a smile like that.” We’re very quick to point out someone else’s flaws, hoping it keeps people from discovering our own. Heaven forbid someone else finds out that we’re less than perfect!

The thing is though; we’re not created to meet the standards of this world. Yet, for some reason, we keep giving the world the power to determine our value. The world’s definition is established in the lies from Satan. He’s the enemy here and yet we keep playing for his team. We allow him to not just whisper insecurities into our ears and hearts, but we opt to give into them.

You and I are going to have to come to a place where we stop handing people the kind of power only God should wield over us. Because, ya know, He thinks we’re pretty stinkin’ special. He made us and He doesn’t make mistakes. We’re going to have to let that Truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us. I’m not there yet. I’ve resolved to be on my way though…