I’ve been a sports fanatic all my life. And as a fan, I’m always wanting to see my teams achieve perfection. Whether it’s going undefeated or pitching a no-hitter, there’s something in me that longs to see them achieve the impossible. As a kid, I always lead my teams to perfect seasons…at least in my mind, I did. But as much as we love the idea of perfection, the reality is there’s no such thing as the perfect life.
Romans 3:23 puts it plainly: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No one bats a thousand in life. No one hits a home run every time they step to the plate. We all strike out from time to time. We all make mistakes. We all have those moments we wish we could replay. But here’s the good news—God isn’t asking us to be flawless. In fact, He knows we’re not. What He’s looking for are hearts that lean into Him when we fall short.
This is why the words of the Lord to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 are so powerful: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In sports, a team’s character is often revealed not when they’re winning, but when they’re behind and struggling. The same is true for us. Our greatest growth doesn’t come in seasons of comfort and success, but in the moments when we’ve been knocked down and have to choose whether or not we’ll get back up.
Peter’s story in the Gospels is a perfect example. He looked Jesus in the eyes saying he would never deny Him. Yet just hours later, he failed—three times. But Jesus didn’t leave Peter in his failure. After the resurrection, Jesus went to Peter and restored him (John 21:15–19), and he went on to be a bold leader in the early church. Peter’s failure became the soil that God used to grow him deeper in humility, compassion, and courage.
The same is true for us. God can use our failures as opportunities for growth—if we let Him. Proverbs 24:16 says, “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” What matters most to God isn’t whether we stumble, it’s whether we trust Him enough to get back up.
Our failure doesn’t define us—God’s grace does. And the beautiful thing about His grace is that it doesn’t just offer forgiveness; it empowers us to move forward. When we let Him work in our weakness, His strength shines through, and our story becomes a testimony of His faithfulness.
So, the next time you feel like you’ve struck out or dropped the ball, remember: God’s not asking us for perfection—He’s asking for us to persevere. May we learn from our mistakes and allow Him to teach us in the moment. So that, by His grace, we can get back up and keep growing in our relationship with Him!
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