A Broken Heart is All You Want {Guest Post}

Good morning, friends! We are so excited to feature a guest post today from Jessie Christensen. As a recovering perfectionist, I so appreciate Jessie heartfelt post on how we're not perfect -- and it's ok. It's a message I need to hear, again and again. Here's more from Jessie:

Perfection -- something we all strive for, right?
Or at least, that is what our world tells us.
The perfect hair, the perfect body weight, the perfect car, the perfect job.
The perfect emotional reaction, the perfect speech, the perfect ministry.

What exactly is perfection, anyway?
What defines a perfect body?
What defines the perfect life?

The Webster dictionary defines perfect as having no mistakes or flaws, completely correct or accurate, having all the qualities you want in that kind of person, situation, etc.

Mistakes? Yup, I have made 4,767,862,178 (in just the past year).

Flaws? Yup, I have a few many.

Completely accurate and correct? I know this is shocking, but I am wrong...a lot.

Having all the qualities you want in a person, situation, etc? Depends on who you ask about me :)

How are we supposed achieve a life of no mistakes or flaws? We can’t.

And we will never live a flawless life because we were never designed for that in the first place.

The thing is, we ALL fall short of his glory.

We all fall short of perfection.

Yes, even that woman you think has it ALL together.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.”

Romans 3:23

It is one thing to hold ourselves to a high standard.

It is another thing to hold ourselves to an impossible standard.

We need to know the difference.

I have been listening to my favorite song on repeat lately (Hillsong, “Heart Like Heaven”)

"If You sought perfection

I'd die trying to reach it

But this broken heart is all you want"

It’s a beautiful reminder that the Lord really just wants our hearts.

Broken, flawed, and imperfect.

We were never designed to try and reach perfection.

However, the enemy wants you to believe that perfection is the only way to live abundantly, but that is not the truth.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

- John 10:10

But whether we like it or not, living abundantly as a Christian does not always mean having it easy.

An abundant life will also include pain and heartache.

It includes feelings that are unstable and unpredictable.

It includes dreams that will be fulfilled and some that won’t.

But living an abundant life also means we live under God’s good Grace:

We live free from guilt

Free from shame

Free from pressure

Free from expectation

Free from letting ourselves down.

“And are justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”

Romans 3:24

So, how do we do that?

Well, we live in a fallen world and perfection will never be attained or fulfilled this side of heaven.

But to start, we don't have to have all the answers, all the time.

Sometimes all we need to know is the next right step, and all we need to do is muster up the courage to do that ONE thing --

The rest will reveal itself later.

And while we are here on this broken yet beautiful world, I have a challenge for us:

Let us be women who strive for progress, not perfection.

Women who hold ourselves to the standard of grace, not perfection.

Women who chase our God-given, beautiful dreams, not perfection.

Women who accept that when we fail, we are simply human, we are not a failure.

Women who let the Word define us, not the world.

Women who speak out of love and not out of fear to be perfect.

Women who build each other up and not tear down.

Women who value each other and don’t disrespect.

Let us be women who believe in the forgiveness of God.

Let us be women who live boldly and courageously knowing we are covered in God’s grace.

Let us be women who live confidently that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God’s own hand .

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

You can follow Jessie's journey on her blog, In The Waiting. Jessie always felt like life didn't truly begin until she was married. Then one night in 2011, frustrated why it had not happened yet, she finally re-surrendered her control over to the Lord. Since that night, over four years ago, she has been documenting the amazing journey the Lord has brought her on while in the waiting. Jessie is living a more fulfilled, more purposeful and passionate life than ever before. In her waiting, she loves to encourage, and empower women to continue to trust, stay faithful, stay prayerful, and expect God to do amazing things, even in the waiting for an answered prayer. Connect with Jessie on her blog, Facebook, or Instagram.