Thursday Thoughts: The Flaw in Flawless
Scripture Reading
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
There are very few things in this world that are flawless. And often, the shinier and more perfect something appears, the more flaws you begin to find. Maybe that’s because people try so hard to make the broken look beautiful — to polish over the dents and cover up the scars — but vanity itself is inherently flawed.
It seems that the harder you try to be flawless, the easier it becomes to pick apart every imperfection. But when you let the flaws show, when you simply accept things as they are, people tend to see truth instead of pretense.
Earlier today, I saw a flashy truck — gleaming paint, chrome wheels, music blasting. Everything about it said, “Look at me, I’m perfect.” But when I got behind it at a red light, I noticed something: the truck was crooked, crab-walking down the road. The paint covered layers of body filler, the chrome was fake, and the sound system buzzed instead of sang. What looked flawless from a distance was deeply flawed up close.
A few minutes later, I pulled into work and saw an old pickup — rust spots, dents, worn tires. Yet, I didn’t notice the flaws. I saw ruggedness. Reliability. Character. That truck had clearly lived a long, hardworking life, and despite the wear, it was still moving forward. That’s when it hit me — there’s beauty in the genuine.
What We See vs. What God Sees
In life, we often chase shiny perfection — the nice car, the dream job, the picture-perfect family. We see people who seem to have it all and think, I want what they have. But so often, the shine is just a mask.
That big house might come with sleepless nights of debt.
That perfect vacation might come at the cost of a broken home.
That beautiful image of success might be painted over loneliness and exhaustion.
There’s nothing wrong with wealth — when used to honor God. But when it’s used to build an image instead of a legacy, it leads to emptiness.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:19–20
One of the richest, most joyful men I ever met wore scuffed boots, faded overalls, and a weather-beaten John Deere hat. His hands were dirty, his nails blackened with grease, and yet he had peace. He had the joy of the Lord. I’ve also seen people in villages across the world who own almost nothing — clothes made from rags, shoes crafted from old tires — and yet their joy radiates.
Their wealth is joy.
Their peace is Christ.
Their success is faith that endures.
The Devil’s Trade
When the devil took Jesus to the mountaintop, he offered Him the world:
“All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:9)
That’s what Satan still does to us — especially in Western culture. He takes us to the mountaintop and whispers, “Look at all this. The money, the power, the fame — it can all be yours.”
But what he doesn’t show you is the emptiness behind it.
He doesn’t show you the crab-walking truck behind the perfect paint job.
A dear friend once said, “The grass may look greener on the other side, but it ain’t nothing but a green light shining on brown grass.”
True Joy
So today, take a look at what you’re chasing. Are you polishing something that’s already cracked? Are you covering flaws instead of embracing authenticity?
Because when people look at you, they’ll either see the shine or the sincerity. They’ll either see the flawless mask or the rugged joy of the Lord.
As Scripture says:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
True wealth is not found in what glitters — it’s found in what endures.
Prayer
Father,
Teach me to see beauty in the genuine and to value truth over appearance.
Strip away my pride and help me embrace the dents and scars that show Your grace at work in me.
May my life reflect not perfection, but authenticity — the rugged joy that comes only from You.
In Christ’s name, Amen.
Takeaway
Flawless is overrated. Faithfulness is eternal.
Let the world see your dents — because they’re proof that grace has held you together.
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Justin Edwards
Founder ICUmissions.org
