—“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We are created in God's image and likeness, but we are also human beings with a sinful nature. That means we will never be flawless while in our human bodies on this planet. One of the most beneficial things we can do while on this planet is to accept our flaws and inadequacies and allow God to shine through them to help us grow. Paul learnt this lesson after pleading with God to remove something that was holding him back and making him weak, but God refused.

—“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).