I think a lot of people fall into the trap of trying to be perfect before God. It’s understandable—we want to please Him, and we often think that means we need to be flawless. Unfortunately, this mindset keeps many people from coming to God. They feel they can’t approach Him until they’ve achieved perfection. As a result, they either work tirelessly to do good deeds, hoping to earn His favor, or they simply give up, believing it’s impossible to please God because of their sins, mistakes, and the constant temptations in this fallen world.
It’s frustrating when it seems like the ones who suffer the most are those striving to live righteously, while the unrighteous appear to thrive. They seem to have it all—money, power, and happiness—even as they lie, cheat, and swindle their way to success. Their finances grow, they live in luxurious homes, drive expensive cars, and enjoy the best of everything. Meanwhile, those striving to honor God often struggle just to make ends meet.
Sometimes, it doesn’t seem fair. Does God really love the righteous? Even in the church, we see people prospering who aren’t living God-honoring lives. They act just like the world, yet claim they’re blessed by God. It can make you wonder if living righteously is worth it when unrighteousness seems to lead to comfort and success.
But here’s the truth: You need to change that belief system. God isn’t holding blessings back from you because you’re not perfect. He desires to bless those who seek Him and live righteously. The difference might be that those who aren’t living perfect lives still believe God can bless them. They trust that He loves them despite their flaws.
Perhaps you need to start believing that God isn’t demanding perfection—He’s looking for people who are being perfected through Him. Surrender yourself to His love and forgiveness instead of striving for unattainable perfection.
Stop holding yourself to a standard only Jesus could meet. Accept His forgiveness and allow Him to take care of your imperfections, mistakes, and sins. Let go of the idea that you must be perfect before God can bless you. It’s okay to receive good things for yourself—God loves you, and He is perfecting you daily. Can’t a loving Father give His children good gifts simply because He loves them? You don’t have to work for His blessings. They come through faith in Jesus, not by your efforts.
Here’s a prayer to help realign your focus:
Lord, thank You for redeeming us through Your works, not ours. I pray that Your people will trust in You and what You’ve done for them. Help them to receive Your love and grace fully, without feeling they need to earn it. May their righteousness come through faith in You alone. Thank You, Lord, for Your redemption and Your blessings. Bless Your people with good things by their faith in You. Amen..
