Thriving Through The Cracks

This past Sunday, I was slated to sing a song with our band before the worship service.  Our band plays cover songs ten minutes before the worship services they lead, which makes for a fun atmosphere, and also lets everyone milling around in the foyer know that church is starting soon.  

I had practiced the song ("Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Suede) on my own a dozen times.  I rehearsed with the band at least four times, and I knew the lyrics by heart.  

Until I stood up to sing, and completely forgot the first stanza.  

In that moment, I decided that instead of lamely trying to keep going, I just needed a restart.  It pained me to do it, and I was embarrassed, but I figured since everyone in the room knew I screwed up, I may as well own it.  

We restarted the song, and I made it through without any further mistakes, thanks be to God.  But even so, I was silently beating myself up over the stumble.  What I realized later was that no one cared.  In fact, they seemed to think better of me for it, which blew my mind.   

Life has a way of reminding us—sometimes gently, sometimes with a jolt—that we are not perfect. 

We stumble in our relationships. We fall short of our own expectations. We get it wrong, even when our hearts mean well. In a world obsessed with flawless images and flawless performance, imperfection can feel like failure. But God sees it differently.

Richard Rohr reminds us:  

“Perfection, rather, is the ability to incorporate imperfection! There’s no other way to live: You either incorporate imperfection, or you fall into denial. That’s how the Spirit moves in or out of our lives.”

This is a radical reframing. The goal isn’t to erase every flaw or hide every weakness. Instead, it’s to invite our imperfections into the story of our growth—to see them as places where God’s Spirit can move and work. Denial chokes off that movement. But acceptance, humility, and honesty open the door.

Leonard Cohen captured this truth beautifully: “There is a crack, a crack, in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” The cracks—the times we’ve been wounded, the moments we’ve failed, the mistakes we’ve made—are not proof that we’re unusable. They are the very openings through which God’s grace pours in. The light doesn’t avoid the cracks; it seeks them out.

When we stop pretending to be perfect, we begin to live in a freedom we can’t find in denial. Our weaknesses become the very canvas upon which God paints beauty. Our struggles become testimonies of His power to redeem. Our “not enough” becomes the stage for His “more than enough.”

Think of the disciples. None of them were polished saints when Jesus called them. Peter was impulsive, Thomas doubted, and James and John fought for the best seats in the kingdom. And yet, through their imperfections, God’s Spirit moved powerfully. Their cracks didn’t keep them from thriving—they became the openings through which God’s light transformed them.

So, the next time you notice your own cracks—your impatience, your insecurity, your tendency to fall short—don’t despise them. Bring them into the light. Let God pour His love into those spaces. And as He does, you’ll discover that your imperfections aren’t obstacles to your thriving; they are the very means by which you’ll be made whole.

Embrace your imperfections. Incorporate them into your story. Let the Spirit flow through them. And trust this truth: every crack in your life is an entry point for God’s light and love.

And, if you want to see my flawed performance, find my church on Facebook and watch the video. I've done it a few times myself.  

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for loving me as I am, cracks and all.
Help me to see my imperfections not as failures, but as places where Your Spirit can work and Your light can shine through.
Teach me to embrace my flaws with honesty and humility, trusting that You will fill every broken space with Your love.
May my life reflect the beauty of Your grace, even through the cracks.
Amen.