Biblical Truths for Why We Desire Perfection

Have you ever wondered why we seem to look for perfection in this life? No matter how much we accomplish, we strive for the perfect life. God wired our spirits with a double dose of cravings for perfection in this life.

Our first dose was at creation where our spirits were created to live with God, in perfection, in the Garden of Eden. Then He also gave us the anticipation of perfection in eternity where the Garden of Eden is restored (Revelation 21); our second dose.

However, we’re living in between these two perfect gardens where perfection does not exist.

The struggles we have as we live between two gardens are real. We have all experienced them personally, and we have seen others we love, and even total strangers, navigate through the brokenness that exists in between the two gardens.

It’s in this gap between our expectations of perfection and our current experiences that the enemy preys.

And that gap is the fertile ground where temptation to not trust God grows. We are deceived into thinking our life, people, relationships, money, children, job should be better than what they are. Better than what God is allowing in our lives.

I admit…I struggle with fully trusting God every day and in all things. Perhaps you can relate.

Sometimes we can even become disappointed with God. We assume we know what a good God would do in our lives. Yet that doesn’t seem to align with our current circumstances. If we have this misunderstanding of God, we will have a misunderstanding of our circumstances as we walk in this life between two gardens.

Then the enemy slithers in and places hints on our hearts that whisper, You’re right. Your marriage, friend, job, [fill in the blank] doesn’t measure up. It’s okay to want more. You deserve it. And if we slip into the temptation, he comes back and accuses us before God for falling! (Revelation 12:10b)

This sometimes messy place between two gardens is not God’s way of being cruel; it’s His way of leading us home. But, it requires trust in Him. You see, we need to trust first and then walk into our circumstances; not be in our circumstances and then try to walk into God’s trust.

We need to trust first and then walk into our circumstances; not be in our circumstances and then try to walk into God’s trust.

The enemy wants to isolate us. He wants to shut us up. He wants to stop us from fulfilling our God-given purpose in this garden. The purpose God designed, that fully perfects our faith, is fulfilled through the trials and struggles He allows as we do life between two perfect gardens. (Hebrews 12:2a, James 1:2-4)

Remember the enemy has been defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11a). So, do not keep quiet! Speak these truths over your heart and your circumstances. We can blossom where we’re planted and live victoriously in this garden!

Ponder

What circumstances between two gardens leaves you vulnerable to deception? Are there areas of your life you struggle trusting God with?

Note: This insight came from a conference I recently attended “The Word Alive” with Lysa TerKeurst in Orlando, FL. 

Practice

A Truth: “They triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11a NIV

A Song: Trust in You by Laura Daigle

A Read: Unshakeable Trust, By Joyce Myers

A Prayer: Oh God, help me navigate this world between two gardens. I know the things of this world were NOT what you designed. Yet in all things You make good out of bad. Help me trust You in all things and at all times. Let my circumstances not dictate my happiness or my level of trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.