Standard- something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example. something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality.
Standard, a word that has entrapped and entangled not only myself, but others as well. A word that has wrapped itself like a rope around me over and over until I can’t move an inch. A word that continues to find its way back into my life.
Standards can be found anywhere and everywhere we look. They’re found in every magazine we see. The body type that’s the “most desirable”. The perfect diet to obtain that perfect body. They’re found on Pinterest in what the perfect house looks like. The perfect decorations to go into your perfect house on your walls that has the perfect paint color.
They’re found on social media that posts pictures with the perfect filter with the perfect people making the perfect poses living their perfect lives.
Let me tell you the definition of perfect for a second.
Perfect- being entirely without fault or defect; satisfying all requirements; corresponding to an ideal standard
Standards lead to this idea of perfection. Of obtaining something that we will NEVER obtain. My whole life standards have been thrown my way. The standard of being the perfect student and getting all A’s. The standard of being the perfect athlete and being the best out on the field or on the court. The standard of being the perfect daughter. The standard of looking like how the world wants me to look; to be under 150 lbs and if I’m not then I have to eat as little as I can or not eat at all to obtain that. If I don’t look pretty by the world’s standards then I need to put on loads of makeup so I can feel better about myself. To do things to myself physically to be “more desirable”.
To make me as a person “more desirable”.
And the worst is the standard of being this perfect Christian who has everything together. Who always raises her hands during worship. Who always says the right things at the right time. Who is selfless and gives to the poor and feeds the hungry and all the stereotypical Christian things I gotta do.
But guess what…I AM NOT PERFECT NOR WILL I EVER BE.
So why do I still try to be?
Why do I still try to be this perfect person who never makes mistakes? Who looks flawless and is flawless? Why do I still strive to obtain something that I will never obtain? Nor am meant to obtain?
Reality is, I’m human. We all are. And because of that fact, we are not perfect. We have flaws. Since being on the race and living in constant community I’ve seen alot of people make mistakes. I’ve seen their flaws and faults, and they have for sure seen all my flaws and faults. But does that mean I love them or they love me any less? Thank goodness no. I’ve come to learn that I love them even more so because of their flaws.
Because when I see those flaws and faults, I see ALL of that person. Not just the pretty, touched up, edited side that we show most people. No. I see all of them and they trust me enough to show me all of them. Even if it was intentional or not.
So I have to question, if people love me through all my flaws, why wouldn’t the Lord love me through them too? And God sees me and my heart more than any human ever could. He knows me better than anyone ever will. EVER.
So why am I still trying to reach this standard of perfection I will never even begin to touch? Because honestly the closer I get to this perfect God, the more I see how imperfect I am. The more I see how much I need him and need to depend on him. So do I let the pressure to “keep up” this perfection game crush me? Or do I actually stop and let the Lord meet this unreachable standard for me?
Will I rest in the fact that when Jesus looks at me he doesn’t see this imperfect person, he sees the blood of his son poured out on me? That he sees the standard of perfection met fully and completely because of his sons sacrifice? That he sees his daughter in all white; pure and innocent of guilt, blame, and shame?
That he loves me more than I can even begin to fathom? Through all the mistakes I make and the flaws I have?
So honestly, screw these standards the world and satan throws at me. They degrade, devalue, and diminish. Now don’t get me wrong, there are certain standards to be upheld; but they’re much less burdensome when they’re from the Lord and not from man. Especially when you lean and depend on him to help you uphold them. And that makes you wanna uphold them even more when you do it together with him.
Perfection, I’m sorry, but you’re going down the garbage. You have no foothold in my life anymore. I will never reach you or touch you, so why try when someone else has already done that for me?
So for those of you who want to be perfect, who want to uphold this ideal or standard the world throws at you, ball it up and throw it AWAY. And let the blood of Jesus cover you from head to toe. The standard of perfection is met for you, so stop trying to fulfill a demand that has been done for you. Again, emphasis on the FOR you.
Be free from perfection. For other people, for yourself, and for the Lord. Be free in HIM. Because that is the most free you will ever be. Choose life.
Btdubs, thanks Webster dictionary for being the bomb and giving me these definitions. You’re much appreciated.
And thank you readers for reading. Hope the Lord spoke to you through this. Hope the Lord grants you freedom in every way. Much love.
-Kyla Cal
