you do not need to be perfect!

 Hi, there!

I was reading back at my last blog post and, oh my word, I apologize for all of you who read through that. I’m very grateful if you DID, but still. That was depressing even for me to read. But, they were my feelings, and they’re therefore valid.

I’m currently writing this from riding in our car as we drive through Ohio. (I CAN BLOG POST FROM MY PHONE! MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS CHANGED!) And, as you may have seen in my Instagram stories, road trips give me a place to think a lot about…everything. And if you know me well, you know it’s difficult for me to authentically explain my thoughts and emotions. But I seem to do a good job once I try, so here goes:

I’m what you could call a “people pleaser”. (I took a personality quiz online, and I got what one calls an “Obliger”, so if you know anything about that, yeah, that’s what I am.) I care a lot about what people think of me. And I worry a lot about other people’s choices- because, for some reason, I think I’ll be affected by their consequences. (No. It’s their choice, so they’re punished for it. I’m only punished for my choices. Please see Article of Faith #2 :) ) So it’s very easy for me to become caught up in the worry if I’m “doing it right”. I know my standards, and I know my limits- but peer pressure’s tactics can be very cunning indeed. “Am I too close to the limit?” I wonder, as I forget the limits I set for myself in the first place. “Maybe I don’t need to worry about it…they like me like this, anyway.”

And thus, my view becomes fractured, and I become more worried about being of the world, rather than just in it.

Of course, this is exactly what the hosts of Hell desire.

They laugh happily as soon as I start to sink into confusion. They taunt me from their great and spacious building, saying all things are too confusing for me to ever learn.

But Jesus carries a different message.

You see, His power is the only thing that pulls me out of this mental fog. His voice is the only voice that can give me divine truth. He says that I can learn- just over the course of time. Line upon line. Precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little.

And He can do the same for you, too.

Listen to me. Your mental battles may be different from mine. Your voices may yell different things than mine. But His extended hand remains the same. His power to help you through all things remains the same. The world changes constantly, but He never will.

He says that perfection is a process. He says that the line still stands. He says we can walk it, and by doing so we can become like Him.

Nothing to me could ever matter more.

So, I shall continue to learn! Life is an adventure, and every day is a new lesson.

Thanks for being along on the adventure with me. Your presence and love means more than you could ever know. :]

Thanks for reading,

oxoxo,

Emma