STEP 5: Accept Imperfections ( Yours & others)

Blog Series: 7 Steps to Go From Broken to Blest

STEP 5: Accept Imperfections (Yours & Others)

Adele M. Gill

Adapted from my book, ‘From Broken to Blest: Embracing the Healing that Awaits You’

https://YouTube.com/@theinspirationcafewithadele   

 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

James 1:17

 

Growing up, I tried hard not to let anyone know about the poverty and childhood trauma that I lived with on a daily basis. I avoided having close friends in my youth for fear others would learn the truth about my life, and judge, or worse yet, reject me. This was all fertile breeding ground to grow in the illusion of perfectionism, as I strived to cover up my imperfections– both internal, and my difficult early life situation.

Perfectionism also followed me into my early adulthood. I became very sick in my mid- 20’s with myasthenia gravis, a neuro-auto-immune condition that was/still is, lifelong, life-altering, and severely disabling. It affects my breathing, speech, swallowing and mobility, causing me to leave the profession I loved: Nursing. For years I refused to face or accept my vulnerabilities, and worked hard to be the best wife, nurse, and mother. But I was so sick, and  fell short on every front, while attempting to keep up the façade of being perfect was exhausting. My life was falling apart way in every way, and it seemed there was nothing I could do about it. However, I continued to refuse to accept my frailties, and imperfections.

The Illusion of Human Perfection

The more I tried to be “the best” at everything, the sicker and the more depressed I became. I did not know that the untreated childhood trauma I had endured could make me sick. But the mind and body are closely connected. Dealing with trauma and extended periods of stress can make your body sick, and conversely, infirmity can affect your mental health. In a way, I knew I was fighting a losing battle on every front— mind, body, and spirit—but I was incapable changing on my own. I did not know then that the far reaching, enduring effects of untreated childhood trauma were at the core of it all. So I continued on my way with the illusion that I should be perfect, but in reality, I was anything but…

Over time, as I began to grow in my relationship with Jesus, I eventually, realized that this is not a perfect world, and neither was I. The charade of perfectionism began to fall away as I started praying and trying to lean on Jesus in every situation. I became more aware and accepting of my vulnerabilities and hence, those of others. This discovery enabled me to confront my imperfections head-on, so I turned to Jesus for help, and started to get more real with myself and others.

It was only with God’s unfailing help that I was finally able to face my early trauma, and begin to heal. Through prayer and trusting in Jesus, I slowly began to grow in my ability to love and forgive those who had hurt me the most in my youth by accepting my own imperfections and vulnerabilities, and subsequently, theirs.

Not a Perfect World

Aware or not, we all have imperfections to some degree. But this is not a perfect world, and we are all imperfect human beings. Even people who seem to “have it all together” have vulnerabilities and imperfections like the rest of us. No one is better than anyone else, and no one is “less than.” We all have old and new things-baggage-we are trying to deal with that can make us think perfection is the goal, even when that is not reality.

When we think we are perfect, we have no need to ask for God’s help. Why would we? We must learn to drop our own perfectionism, and grow in humility to trust in, and depend on Jesus, to help meet our every need. Following Jesus is the most important decision anyone can possibly make—and it reaps tremendous benefits.

How blest are we when we can put aside the arrogance of perfectionism, grow in humility, and accept Jesus into their lives? Who else will be there for us when life gets difficult and we must face our limitations and let go of perfectionism?

 

Learn to Celebrate Your Imperfections

Over the years, I have come to celebrate my imperfections–even laugh at them at times. Why? Because each time I discover yet another imperfection in myself, it gives me the opportunity to turn to Jesus’ for His unfailing help. Most of all, it reminds me that perfection belongs to Him  alone. The uncomfortable fact is that none of us is perfect—human perfection is simply an illusion.

Certainly we all make mistakes in life that we have to deal with. It’s never easy to make those discoveries. Yet, when we remember today’s scripture, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” [James 1:17], it serves as a gentle reminder that there is only one person who walked the earth that was perfect, and that is Jesus Christ. Everything we have, are, and can do is a gift from God, and humility is the key to embracing His divine perfection.

God uniquely made each us in His image, but we pale in comparison to His Majesty, particularly due to our imperfections. He has wonderfully and purposefully created all of humanity, and knows each of us better than we know ourselves. God never wastes a thing. He can, and does, use people and situations to draw us close to Him, even and especially, through our vulnerabilities and imperfections.

© Copyright 2025   |   Adele M. Gill

 

Adele M. Gill is a retired RN, certified Chaplain, freelance writer, award winning author of 6 books, and a recipient of the International Positive Change Podcast Awards https://theinspirationcafeblog.net. She is also the founder/author of The Inspiration Café Blog. Adele may be reached @: adelemgill@gmail.com.