Do you ever say, “That’s good enough”?

So much of my life is dictated by perfectionism that there has to be  ‘good enough’ moments in my life or I would go crazy.  

Case in point, we have lived in a project house for the last decade. After all this time, I have to admit it is by choice, because it doesn’t take ten years to complete a remodel. But each project attempt is like picking a healed scab. Are we ready to deal with contractors again: ALL the strangers in our house, the chaos, the broken promises, and all that mess and fuss? And so far the answer has been no; obviously. I can live with stacks of flooring in the corner of my makeshift office in the den.   Doesn’t everyone have a pile of boxes next to their front door?

One recent small purchase has prompted me to welcome back the contractor chaos…

This year I bought a chronological Bible and I have been reading it from cover to cover. When history intersects with my faith, it becomes all the more tangible and exciting.  I was reading in the book of Numbers (chapter 32).  God had just delivered His chosen people the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This rebellious group of whiners earned themselves 40 years of wandering in the desert because of their lack of faith and rotten attitudes.  This is an over simplification of the human heart and a large chunk of history, but hopefully you get the picture.

The time had finally come, and the Israelites were at the gateway of the Promise Land. The fulfillment of God’s promise was just across the Jordan River. It was finally here, their new homeland was in sight.

The Israelites were made up of 12 Tribes; the sons of a man named Jacob, and later renamed Israel.  Prior to even stepping a foot in their prized inheritance, leaders of the Tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh approached Moses with a ‘good enough’ request.  They didn’t want any of the Promise Land. They wished to settle where they were currently camped. They wanted the land east of the Jordan River.

To sweeten their proposal, the men of these tribes even agreed to stay with the group and help them conquer and secure the land for the other tribes, if only they could return to this plot outside the boundary of the Promise Land.

Mamas, they chose their reward BEFORE even seeing what God had waiting for them just across the river!

They settled.

They accepted their ‘good enough’.

They didn’t even consider seeing what God had waiting across the river.

Incredulous, I thought to myself: ‘Why would they do that?’  Then a light bulb went off inside. And I looked around and surveyed my own unfinished house mess of ten years. Why do I live in a house of unfinished projects and piled up boxes in corners?  Why am I not fully enjoying the blessing of this house that God has given me?

I wasn’t wandering the dessert for 40 years like the Israelites. But I have been stalling house project for the last eight years. We moved in. We got the house livable for two, and then we stopped.

Does any of this resonate with you, mamas?

Where in your life are you settling for ‘good enough’?  Is it time for you to trust God, do the work, and reap the rewards?