Pursuit over Perfection
Started March 20, 2024
Pursuit over perfection. A phrase that was given to me by the Lord just over a year ago. What does it mean?
Peace. A release of pressure to be perfect in an ever-so-demanding world. We want to pursue perfection, yes, but the focus on perfection rather than the focus on pursuit is what causes pressure. At least for me. Fixations. Failure (even though failure and fear can be utilized productively, but that is another topic). Unrealistic goals to be perfect, because we are not and will never be. But the pursuit is a realistic action. Pursuit is process-oriented. Pursuit is giving whatever is at hand 100%. And if that 100% of effort yields 80% outcome one day and 70% the other, it’s still 100% effort. If I look at the 10% deficit in outcome, I see failure (even though again failure and fear can be utilized productively, but that is another topic). If I look at the effort, I’m there, and I see room to grow and continue pushing that 100% for an increase of a growth mindset outcome.
Does that make sense? It helps me. Allow me to continue, maybe make it make sense a bit more.
Perfection is unrealistic and unrelatable. Pursuit creates a commonality of drive, struggle, triumph, and growth through inevitable tribulation.
Lens on process over outcome. Pursuit over perfection.
If I tell myself I have to set a perfect ball or get a perfect grade, draw the perfect sketch, paint the perfect picture, or be the perfect girl for someone or the perfect friend or whatever it may be, stress immediately comes. If someone were to tell me that they were perfect, I would think they were a prideful liar, and respect would not necessarily be due. If someone were to come to me and say they were giving their 100%, to the project, to the game, to the art, and to me, while acknowledging that it won’t be perfect, I would admire and respect them all the more.
I don’t want perfect, I want pursuit.
As I come to this conclusion for my own life and standards, God tells me the same: I don’t want perfect, I want pursuit. I want your heart. I want your full surrender.
Pursuit over perfection in the act of pursuing perfection. And the perfection we are ultimately called to pursue is God, Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate perfection. Gentle and lowly. Bold and powerful. Graceful and just. Fruitful promise-keeper.
Here lies a beautiful relationship between a perfectly imperfect human and a perfectly perfect God.
Colossians 3:23 - “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ“
I love this verse. Work heartily and trust that the Lord will bear fruit onto your life. At the end of the day, he wants our hearts. Our intentions being for His greatness. Divine greatness, divine perfection. Not meeting worldly standards, but pursuing His standard, using the example he set as both perfecr man and God here on Earth.
