DAY 6 | Hiding Your Flaws From God? Here’s What He Does First | Excuses God Didn’t Accept

Flaws have a way of making us believe God should choose someone else. We start thinking that something about us—something not quite right—makes us unworthy, unqualified, or simply not good enough. 

And it’s usually not because we don’t love God, but because we’re afraid of what His holiness might reveal about us. 

The closer we get to God, the more aware we become of the parts of ourselves we try hardest to hide: the habits, the attitudes, the thoughts, the wounds, the inconsistencies. 

Our Bible character today, Isaiah, understood this deeply. He wasn’t in rebellion, and he wasn’t running. He was in the presence of God, and that alone was enough to expose the truth he could no longer mask.

Remember now, Isaiah was given a vision of God seated on His throne in overwhelming holiness. Angels were worshiping, the temple shook, and the glory of God filled the entire place. In that moment, Isaiah suddenly became aware of his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of the people around him. Confronted with God’s purity, he cried out in distress, realizing he was unclean and unworthy to stand in such holy presence.

In that moment of overwhelming glory, Isaiah didn’t lift his hands; he lowered his head. Isaiah 6:5 (NIV) says, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips…” 

Isaiah didn’t point to a general flaw; he named the area of his greatest struggle. He admitted the part of himself he knew could not stand next to holiness. 

And this is where many of us stumble. We believe God wants our worship but not our weakness, our praise but not our pain, our obedience but not our honesty. 

But look at what God did next. God disagreed with Isaiah’s despair. He did not say, “Yes, you are ruined.” He did not push Isaiah away. Instead, God moved toward him. 

Isaiah 6:6–7 (NIV) says, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal… With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’” 

Before God gave Isaiah an assignment, He gave him cleansing. Before God asked for Isaiah’s obedience, He addressed Isaiah’s wound. Before God sent Isaiah out, He removed what Isaiah believed disqualified him.

This is how God deals with flaws: He does not expose to embarrass; He exposes to transform. 

Every person God calls has a place of “unclean lips”—a part of us that feels unworthy, fragile, or stained. Moses had insecurity. Gideon had fear. David had failure. Peter had denial. Paul had a thorn. Isaiah had unclean lips. And yet God moved toward each one. I have insecurities. You have…and you can fill in the blanks.

Psalm 147:3 (NIV) tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

Family, God knows the flaws you and I have been hiding. He knows the insecurities we haven’t voiced. He knows the sins we’re ashamed to admit. And instead of turning away, He draws closer.

Isaiah expected judgment, but God brought cleansing. Isaiah expected rejection, but God affirmed his calling. Isaiah expected disqualification, but God prepared him for a purpose. 

Only after Isaiah was healed could he hear the voice of God saying, Isaiah 6:8 (NIV): “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” 

The man who once cried, “I am ruined,” now responded, “Here am I. Send me.”

Now that is the power of a God who confronts flaws with restoration, not rejection. 

Family, our flaws are not barriers for God, but a starting point. Bring those barriers to Him. Expose those barriers to Him. Confess those barriers before Him. Because what we hide out of shame, God heals with grace. And what we think disqualifies us may be the very place God prepares us.