This life will never be perfect. You'll never be perfect while you're in this life.

The only things that can be perfect are the things God gives: perfect peace as you let go of concerns about yourself and hang onto Him; perfect fulfillment as you stop trying to do it all and let Him do through you whatever He knows is best; and perfect faith that even though you falter and fail, you trust fully in His unconditional love that will never fail to hold you close and turn everything for good.

Perfection in this life is an impossibility. If we could be perfect, we would have no need of a Savior. His love in our lives would remain forever unfulfilled.

It's the imperfections in us that make Him love us more than ever. We need Him, and like a little child who must depend on his father to do what he cannot, this very lack of perfection draws us to Him and Him to us in love.

Without imperfections, there would be no mistakes. Without mistakes there would be no way to learn and grow. Without learning and growing, life would have no purpose. Aren't you glad you're imperfect?

If we are tempted to fume over the flaws in others that hurt and frustrate us, think what a failure we would look like standing next to them if they were perfect.

Each person is created with what to us seem to be built-in design flaws. But He knows they are openings where He plans to place propulsion systems that will one day carry them to the stars and beyond.

Faults and failings in others aren't the sad things in life. What is truly sad is to have such myopic vision as to see only faults, when God has placed before us opportunities for growth and learning through patience, forgiveness, faith‚ and love.

God made us just as we are—faults‚ blunders, and all. Those ugly, rag-wrapped bundles may seem an embarrassing, even discouraging weight to carry, but within they hold the jewels of humility‚ strength of character, compassion, and forgiveness. They are the royal treasures of Heaven.

Let us be thankful for our weaknesses, because it's through them that we learn the greater lessons of love and humility.

And when we see someone else carrying their bundle of "faults," let's pray for them and lend them a helping hand‚ and we may get a glimpse of the precious jewels hidden under the rough exterior.

Everyone is a work in progress. Some of the nicest highways that in the end make our paths easy create some of the biggest messes, inconveniences, detours, and frustrations, often for years, while under construction or repair.

But when it's done, we realize it was worth it. What nearly drove us crazy for a while became an avenue to get us places more quickly and efficiently than before.

So have patience with God’s human works in progress. They may one day be His path for you to things you could not have found otherwise.

By Tim Pedrosa

Tim