February 10, 2025 Take the Imperfect Leap
Monday, Feb 10, 2025
Take the Imperfect Leap
“And I am sure of this,
that He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6, ESV
In 1993, when Seth Godin, author and former dot com business executive, raised investments for one of the first internet companies, no firm specialized in that sort of thing. Instead, they were looking for the next FedEx or pharma company. Godin wrote that he pitched dozens of investors, and they consistently responded, “Get back to us when this is irresistible and then of course we’ll say yes.”
Note: No product or service nor anything we rely on today, began as perfect. Yet, someone went first to pitch their idea or dream. They created a mockup or prototype, and consumers bought those things when version .5 wasn’t perfected yet.
Godin’s words remind me of my former self. A recovering perfectionist who never wanted to raise my hand or step forward unless I knew I would be perfect, an irresistible stand-out. I was reluctant to teach my first Bible study; hesitant to apply for that new position in a brokerage firm when I had no experience in that field; and painfully shy about presenting my first devotional to my writer’s group and for publication. I feared rejection or not being good enough.
Yet, after stepping forward despite more than a minor wave of nausea and the courage only God could instill in me, I realized that the “.5 version” of me that I thought wasn’t quite ready yet, was ready enough. My imperfect God-given gift, ability, or experience that I brought to the table was what others wanted or needed at the moment. They said I was the “perfect fit.”
If we want to leap forward, we’ll need to go before we’re perfect. We need to willingly go to people who want who we are and need what we have to offer at a given moment. We need to go where we sense the tug of the Holy Spirit calling us forward, to take the leap of faith that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion…because we’re always God’s work in progress.
Reflect: Where is God calling you to leap forward, imperfect though you may be or feel? Where do you need to trust Him to fill in the gaps as you go?
Pray: Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding me that I don’t have to be perfect to step into Your calling. Give me the courage to move forward, even when I feel incomplete or unready. Help me to trust that You are working in me and through me, even in my imperfect moments, knowing that what I bring is enough because You are with me, always shaping, strengthening, and refining me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria Ashby
Lay Leader