To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
Psalm 18:25-36
I have a business partner. He’s great and has been super helpful to me over the years. He is constantly coming up with new ideas to expand both Becoming Minimalist and my opportunities in the world.
Most of the time, I like his ideas and go along with them. But not always. Sometimes he’ll have an idea that feels too far off base for my passions, talents, or time availability.
So sometimes I feel like I need to constantly keep him in check—spending time and mental energy reviewing his plans and ideas to make sure they’re a good fit for me and the business.
I have another important partner in my life, Kim. Not only is she my wife of more than 26 years, she also double-checks and edits almost every article I publish. I’ll send an article to her a few days before it gets published and she’ll almost always point out a few things I need to change.
Because I am prone to mistakes, I need her. Because I am imperfect, she has to spend time and mental energy checking my work—almost every time.
This is, of course, the reality of every human relationship.
There are no perfect humans in the world. Which means almost every idea—no matter who it comes from—requires us to double-check it for hidden mistakes.
With that as the backdrop, there is a comforting reality in our relationship with God that I want us to focus on today.
God is perfect.
David reminds us of this fact in Psalm 18: “As for God, his way is perfect; the Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
This is an amazing truth! Because God is perfect, we don’t need to be.
And even more comforting, because God is perfect, we are not required to “double-check” His work in us and through us. Every decision He makes, every plan He sets in motion, is flawless.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to review His plan to make sure it’s good—it always is.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to second-guess His timing—it’s never late and never rushed.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to wonder if He sees the whole picture—He always does.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to analyze whether His will for our life aligns with our gifts.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to fear He might overlook us.
Because God is perfect… we don’t need to rely on our own wisdom to double-check His. His will for our life is always perfect.
What a relief. And what comfort this truth brings.
Because God’s ways are perfect, we can confidently rest in His perfect direction.
Prayer
Father, thank You that Your way is perfect. When I doubt or second-guess, remind me that Your wisdom is flawless. Teach me to rest in the comfort that I don’t need to double-check Your work—I only need to trust it. Amen.