There’s a little voice I hear in my head some days—especially when I mess up, fall short, or just feel behind. Maybe you’ve heard it too. It says, “If you can’t do it perfectly, why bother trying at all?” That voice? It’s a liar. Because the goal was never perfection. The goal has always been better.But let’s be honest—better doesn’t always feel good enough, does it? Especially when we look around and see filtered highlight reels on social media, perfect families, perfect houses, perfect Christians who never seem to doubt, break down, or burn out. If that’s what “perfect” looks like, then better feels like showing up in your sweatpants with mustard on your shirt and a prayer you mumbled while brushing your teeth. And maybe that’s exactly what better looks like today.
Somewhere along the way, we bought into this myth that we’d “arrive.” That one day we’d wake up and everything would click. The struggles would disappear, the habits would hold, the peace would stay. But life doesn’t usually hand us arrival—it invites us into movement.One faithful step. One honest prayer. One kind choice. One humble apology. One restart.That’s progress.
You know what I love about Scripture? It’s full of people who were decidedly not perfect. And God still used them—not once they had their lives together, but while they were in process.David was anointed king as a teenager... but he didn’t step into that calling for years. Paul wrote half the New Testament, but not before living as a religious terrorist. Peter literally walked on water... and then sank like a rock. These were better people, not perfect ones. And God still called them his.Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Not you who began the good work. Not you who have to carry it.
He will.
Which means our job isn’t to be perfect—it’s to keep showing up.
In one of my messages, I talked about my dog Raya and how she constantly tries to take herself for a walk by biting the leash. And honestly? I’m Raya. You might be too. We say we’re trusting God, but we keep grabbing the leash, yanking at control, demanding results, expecting perfection.But better doesn’t need a tight grip. Better requires open hands. Trust. Surrender. The courage to say, “I’m not where I want to be yet, but thank God I’m not where I used to be.”
Maybe for you, better is taking that first walk in a while.
Maybe it’s turning off your phone and playing a game with your kid.
Maybe it’s saying “no” when you usually say “yes” just to keep the peace.
Maybe it’s admitting you need help.
Maybe it’s cracking open the Bible—not because you should, but because you want to know if God still speaks. Whatever it is, let it be small. Let it be sacred. Let it be better, not perfect. And if nobody else tells you today: I’m proud of you. God’s not disappointed in you. He’s not expecting perfection—He’s walking with you toward progress, promising you an eternity of perfection. You don’t have to earn His love by getting it right. You already have it. So keep going, friend.
You’re not perfect. But you’re better.
And better is beautiful.