Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged June 4 2022

June 3, 2022

If you should read my bio, you might think I’m a confident, well-accomplished blind gal. Not so. I mess up sometimes. Here’s a time when my confidence went out the window.

Some years back, I sat in various sessions and workshops at a writers’ and speakers’ conference. As part of the evaluation process of an effective speaker we were to prepare a 5-minute presentation. Piece of cake for this seasoned speaker, right?

With God-given confidence and passion that bubbled up in me, I stood in front of those ladies who were to evaluate me.

With vivid illustrations, I delivered my presentation. Once I finished, they handed me the scores which I placed inside a folder.

When I got home, hubby read the results and comments. I gasped. I sunk. I dropped my shoulders in disappointment.

How, just how could I get top scores in all areas except the one for volume and the effective closing. The closing of all things. I’ve always been told that my closings leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

With my lower lip dragging on the floor, I eased onto the pillows of discouragement.

Then as I sipped from the glass of insecurity I stepped into the six traps when perfection doesn’t happen.

1. I focused on the failure.
2. I fell into the negative-thinking tank.
3. I dismissed the positive, the wonderful and the promising.
4. I embrace the enemy’s lies that I didn’t measure up.
5. I wasted time worrying about the consequences.
6. And the worst one of all, I let the desire for perfection drag me down with unnecessary pressure.

Lesson Learned

So, lesson learned: when we focus on the one negative aspect of our journey, we’re blinded from seeing the great, the best and the wonderful.

They all come to view when we lift the need-to-be-perfect veil. Then is when we see that imperfect, vulnerable, and flawed is how the Lord accepts us. And more importantly, these weaknesses are precisely what He will use to make us grow.

When we choose to rise above mistakes and glance at the other side of failure, we can take a deep breath. And we then reach for God’s hand to keep moving forward.

Along the way, we exchange our desire to become perfect for His perfect love and acceptance.

In Paul’s words:

He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The enemy reminds us of the failures, but Christ repeats the power of His grace.

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His grace is sufficient to correct the wrong, turn failure to lessons, and usher success through opposition.

That’s why our strength doesn’t come in perfection, but in the perfect trust that His grace is truly, completely sufficient.

Let’s Pray

Father, grant me wisdom to focus on the positive, the blessings, the good and the promising. I vow to look beyond my handful of flaws and gaze at Your hand at work instead. In Jesus name.

Where are you placing your focus these days?

Janet

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I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

Tags: Overcoming perfectionism, Perfection, Perfectionist, Strength does not come from perfection, Unnecessary pressure, Wasting time worrying, Where do you place your focus?