Practice Over Perfect: Choosing Progress in the Hands of a Faithful God

“Practice makes perfect.”

You’ve likely heard this phrase more times than you can count. I know I have—and if I’m being honest, practicing isn’t exactly my favorite thing. The word itself takes me straight back to childhood, sitting on a piano bench, fumbling through an E-flat scale with my small hands. The idea of practicing until something was perfect always felt exhausting—and truthfully, it still does.

Not once have I ever played a song flawlessly on the piano. I’ve come close, sure, but perfection? Never. And yet, that same mindset often creeps into how we approach our faith.

When Faith Feels Like a Performance

Without even realizing it, many of us carry this “practice makes perfect” mentality into our relationship with God. We try to get every spiritual rhythm just right—to pray perfectly, study perfectly, serve perfectly, love perfectly.

But that kind of striving only leaves us weary. When we focus on flawless performance, we miss the whole point of grace.

Psalm 37:23–24 offers a comforting perspective:

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (NIV)

This verse reminds us that God is the one who directs our steps. He doesn’t demand perfection from us—He delights in our dependence on Him. Even when we stumble, He doesn’t let us fall, because His hand is holding us steady.

The One Who Perfects Our Faith

C.S. Lewis beautifully captured this truth in The Screwtape Letters:

“He wants them to learn to walk… and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles.”

Our heavenly Father isn’t frustrated by our imperfect steps—He’s pleased by our willingness to keep moving toward Him.

Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that Jesus is “the author and perfecter of our faith.” He is the one doing the perfecting, not us. Philippians 1:6 echoes this truth: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

In other words, our job is not to perform, but to practice—to keep showing up in faith, trusting that God is shaping us in the process.

Choosing Practice Over Perfection

When perfectionism whispers that you’re not doing enough, remember this: your value is not found in flawless performance but in faithful pursuit.

God delights in your effort to know Him, even when it’s messy. He sees your heart, not just your habits. And He promises to uphold you with His hand, no matter how many times you stumble.

So, let’s flip the script together. Let’s choose practice over perfection—progress over performance, faithfulness over flawlessness.

Reflection

Are there areas in your life where you’re striving for perfection instead of resting in God’s grace? What are some ways you can practice delighting in His presence this week?

Dive Deeper

• Philippians 4:9 – Practice what you have learned and seen in Christ.
• Hebrews 10:14 – Through one sacrifice, He has made perfect those who are being made holy.
• Hebrews 12:2 – Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.