When I’ve previously addressed perfectionism, I’ve used biblical truth to expose the lie that God desires you to strive for perfection in order to receive His love.

Note: To listen those previous teachings, check out Episodes #163, #151, or #91.)

Today, I want to further equip you by talking about what God really wants instead: your presence.
Friend, God just wants you to be present with Him. And, yes, He wants you just the way you are. Flaws and all.
God created humans to be in relationship with Him. (A safe, healthy, and loving relationship.)
That’s His main desire. And it starts with your willingness to be present with Him. Just the way you are–an imperfect, sinful human.
So many of you have been taught that you need to become “good enough”–and strive to remain “good enough”--in order for God to love you, accept you, and treat you well.
“Good enough” being obtained through perfectionism; through doing certain good works; through other prerequisites.
Yet nowhere in the Bible does it require those things.
In fact, the entire Bible–from cover to cover–is full of examples of God remaining steadfast in His presence and character despite the actions and sin of His chosen people.
In addition, the overarching story of the Bible is about Jesus. Why He needed to be born into human history; how God prepared His people for it: what Jesus did while He was here and why; and how Jesus will return.
If God actually required things like perfection, or works, or some other type of requirements, He wouldn’t have sent His one and only Son to be born into human history and die on the cross, in our place, for our sins.

John 3:16 (NLT) says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
And Romans 5:8 (NLT) says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“While we were still sinners.” If God was a God of prerequisites and being “good enough,” He wouldn’t have Jesus to the cross while we were still sinners. This verse would read very differently.
But you know what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross? He made it possible for you and I to be seen as sinless and clean before our holy God.
In other words, Jesus made it possible for us to be fully reconciled with God; fully present with God; and have a full relationship with God.
Because God (and Jesus) loved us too much, and desired our presence too much, to allow sin to keep us separated from Him.
God could have left us to our own devices. After all, He’s God right? He doesn’t need us.
But He wants us–because He loves us.
And, yes, you’re currently in the process of discovering who God truly is–so the idea of Him wanting you, just the way you are and without you earning anything, can seem really weird and vulnerable.
But, again, the main thing that God wants is a relationship with you.
So think about it like any other relationship.

For example, you meet Jane at an event and it seems like you two might make really great friends. So you take it one step at a time, proactively getting to know her bit by bit, becoming more aware of Jane’s character and trustworthiness along the way.
But initially, it’s small steps right? Some texting. Meeting for coffee and pastries. Going for a hike together.
You begin by offering your presence (and not perfection). It’s the real you.

And the great thing about stepping into a relationship with God is that He will take care of the overall relationship–in a good way.

Because no one knows God other than God, right? In that aspect, it's different from getting to know another human.
Plus, the God who created you knows what you can handle and when. He knows what wounds you’re carrying. He knows how you best take in information, and your personality quirks, and all the things that make you, well, you!
Which means God will approach His relationship with you in ways that even the most loving and considerate human cannot.

It also means that He can do a lot with a little.
Meaning, all He needs is a small desire to be present with Him, to lean into Him, and to learn more about Him. And He will begin to take care of the rest–through His presence, and His work in your life, and His Word (meaning the Bible and its truth).

Psalm 119:105 (NLT) says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
And in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG), Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Just the way you are. God can–and will–help you through the rest as your relationship with Him grows.
This is your permission slip to finally start letting go of trying to be perfect or “good enough.”
In 2 Samuel 22:31 (NLT) it says, “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
Friend, leave the perfection in God’s hands and, instead, focus on being present with Him.
Presence instead of perfection!