Since last fall, I’ve been living with my sister and brother-in-law, and by extension with their two children—my 3-year-old nephew and 1-year-old niece! Both these kids are absolute TREASURES and it’s been beyond amazing to be able to have so much uncle time with them every day. However, in addition to the joy of being greeted with an exuberant “UNCLE LEW'' when I enter the room, I have to admit I also frequently get the experience of returning from a long day of work only to be greeted by hugs from faces covered in peanut butter—peanut butter which in turn quickly gets all over the hoodie I had washed just that morning, mind you. 

Now, my niece and nephew aren’t concerned about their severe case of peanut-butter-face and how they may spread it all over me, and it doesn’t change my love for them, but how many of you have ever felt that in your walk with God that you may be covered in spiritual peanut butter, and the last thing you want is to get it all over God by going to Him as you are? I know I certainly have.

Our worldly culture is one that is constantly putting pressure on us to be perfect and flawless 24/7. Be it Instagram photos that show a highlight reel of life, competing to try to outdo others unnecessarily in the workspace, or even ourselves putting unrealistic expectations on our life to be religiously flawless. The nature of the world says we can’t have a flaw because if we do, we’ll be rejected. The nature of God disagrees.

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul speaks about the relationship between the believer and God, perfectly summarizing the whole concept in verse 15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The word “Abba” is an intentional one, translating nowadays to “Dada”—the messy, informal, and purely trusting way that a child would cry out to a parent, unconcerned with perfection and flawlessness. 

This is the gift that God has given to us through Christ that is so strongly juxtaposed against the nature of the world. Rather than needing to run and hide in our imperfection and flawed humanity, we are invited to run towards God as a little child would, and are met with love, not rejection. 

So my encouragement to you, friends, is a simple but powerful one. When you feel tempted to cover up and hide due to struggle and shame, take a cue from my niece and nephew and set aside your concern for perfection. Run to your Abba, because His love is waiting just for you, spiritual peanut butter faces and all.