July 16
The Beauty
of Imperfection
"Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters. You know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. So make sure that you are serving Christ, the Lord."
Colossians 3:23-24, NIrV
Sienna’s studio was filled with canvases—some half-painted, others with just the first strokes of an idea. Some had beautiful beginnings, but none were finished. The air smelled of paint and turpentine, yet despite all her effort, Sienna rarely shared her art with anyone.
She was a perfectionist.
No matter how hard she tried, every piece seemed flawed. A brushstroke out of place, colors that didn’t blend quite right, shadows that didn’t look realistic enough. So she would start over—again and again. The fear of criticism was a weight on her shoulders, whispering that if it wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t good enough.
One evening, her best friend, Maya, stopped by. “Sienna, why don’t you ever show your work? I know you have talent.”
Sienna sighed. “It’s not ready. It’s never ready.”
Maya walked over to a covered canvas and pulled off the cloth. “This is amazing.”
Sienna shook her head. “Not really. The proportions are off, the lighting—”
Maya interrupted, “Sienna, who are you painting for? Yourself? Other people?”
Sienna hesitated. “I don’t know. I just want it to be right.”
Maya smiled and picked up Sienna’s worn-out Bible from the shelf. She flipped through and read aloud: “Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Sienna blinked. She had read that verse before, but this time it felt personal.
Maya continued, “You’re so worried about what others think that you’ve forgotten who gave you this gift in the first place. Your art doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to honor God.”
That night, Sienna prayed. “Lord, I’ve been afraid of failing, afraid of what people will say. But I don’t want to be trapped by perfection anymore. Help me to create for You.”
The next day, she picked up her brush and painted—not for approval, not for perfection, but as an offering to God. And for the first time in years, she finished a piece.
She signed her name in the corner, then smiled.
It was finally complete.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gifts and talents You have given me.
Help me to remember that my work is for You, not for the approval of others.
Teach me to let go of perfectionism and fear so that I can use my gifts to glorify You.
Give me courage to finish what I start and trust that You will use it for good.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
