Do you ever convince yourself that you just aren’t living up to Christianity in the way that God had intended? Maybe you suffer from nagging thoughts of “I don’t read the Bible enough,” “I’m not outspoken about my faith,” or “I have too negative an outlook on the world.” When comparing yourself to other Christians, it is easy to despair from what you see as your own downfalls. In his book “Messy Spirituality: God’s Annoying Love For Imperfect People,” Yaconelli suggests that Jesus can be best found in times of imperfections. By reflecting on the ministry of Jesus’ temporal life, and his preferred company of the downtrodden, we can assure ourselves that God takes mercy upon those who are in need of special consideration and care. By trusting in a God who loves the imperfections of Creation, we can open our hearts to a life of spiritual transformation.