Incomplete is not necessarily a bad thing.
It does mean something’s not finished.
Perhaps it’s a work in progress, as the accompanying picture shows.
It might even be deficient.
Which is not the same as defective.
***
If your incomplete something makes you feel deficient, take heart my friend. You might be in Skinny Pig season.
You see, deficient is about scarcity, being under-supplied, lacking and wanting.
Defective, on the other hand, holds the less than stellar definition of being substandard, flawed, malfunctioning, faulty, imperfect.
So let’s back up the Defective Train that would like to take you down the track of deciding, “That’s me!”
No it’s not.
Finding oneself in a place of deficiency can actually serve as a catalyst for moving forward.
Allow me to illustrate with a personal snapshot…
In one of my past employs, I had reached what felt like a plateau. It also seemed I had been camped there for quite a while. It could best be described as hanging out on a stair tread somewhere on the staircase of life. Or in this case, the staircase of career. I was becoming Antsy Nancy.
Able to look back down the staircase, I recognized I’d actually come a long way, thank the Lord. I was also able to look forward and see the good thing that could be, which got my juices going. There is a lot to be said for that rush of adrenaline or a lot of things would remain incomplete, wouldn’t they?
Time passed, then the day came when, hopefully, I pitched the good thing to my boss. Their reply?
“You’re not ready.”
My immediate internal response?
“Defective ‘R Me.”
Thank God, He has a different view of us and goes to necessary lengths to help us reframe who we are.
As I began listening with an ear to hear, understanding began to dawn. Two things became evident: the truth was, I wasn’t ready. Secondly, my boss knew it.
Once I could admit those two things to myself, my perspective changed. From defective to deficient.
It wasn’t that there was something wrong with me or that I was stupid. No, it was that the potential was there, but I was lacking or under-supplied in some things necessary for moving forward into the good thing that God had already planned for me.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. Isaiah 25:1 NASB
The upshot is that a holy fire was lit beneath me (with some gas poured on it by my boss’s candidness). With some passage of time, specific focus, and hard work later, the day came that I reminded them of what they had told me and could honestly declare, “I’ve been getting ready!”
There were areas of deficiency with what was in my hand. I was a Skinny Pig in that regard. But never was I defective.
That revelation, received in my heart and not just my head, brought new definition in ways I needed.
Incomplete is not necessarily a bad thing. Bringing it to completion is a good thing!
So what will you do next with what’s in your hand, especially if it is yet incomplete?
~ Nancy
One of my ‘getting ready’ strategies was working with a life coach. I know – God works in mysterious ways!
If you are in a place of incomplete, work in progress, or deficient – needing some new and additional things in your hand – I’d welcome the opportunity to help fatten up your Skinny Pig as you ‘get ready’!
P.S. There are still some seats available at the upcoming My Life Now workshop on January 24! Click here My Life Now…with a view toward living life forward for all the details. I’d love to spend that time with you in this group setting. It’s a perfect opportunity for moving closer from incomplete to complete !
Love your distinction between defective and deficient. Skinny Pig? That’s a first – but I like it. I can see myself word swagging that, “I’m a skinny pig.”
Nice post!
Thanks for blessing this blogger, Kinsey! As for a little background on ‘skinny pig’, I wrote this initial post in the Skinny Pig category https://nancybentz.com/skinny-pig/. Hope you enjoy it too. Appreciate your comments!
Wow, to be honest, I almost didn’t read this post because the title “Incomplete” did not generate warm-fuzzy feelings! However, I’m glad I did read it! There are some areas of my own life that are “incomplete,” in the sense that it is not yet time to move forward. But your blog reminded me that God is indeed prompting me to follow through, but also to have patience as He prepares me for what He wants me to do in certain areas. Thanks so much!
R.J., thanks so much for visiting via bless-a-blogger! I chuckled at your opening line 🙂 I’m glad you read Incomplete. Our Abba is so patient and willing to continue the work in us He started. Our forward-looking promise is that He will complete it all. In the meantime, we do our part in life and you have listed some beautiful recognition that I hope spurs you on. Blessings to you!
Hmmm… Defective vs. Deficient. Lots to chew on there, Nancy. Thanks for talking about that.
Hi Susan! Thanks so much for reading my post on bless-a-blogger. I’ve been at the hmmm stage many times, with lots of chewing. Be blessed as you lean in and as you give out. Incomplete is a gift when it spurs us on into the heart of the Father. Blessings to you.
Incomplete. What a great perspective, we are not faulty just not done yet. There are so many areas in our life that are still under construction it can be mind boggling. Adjusting how we see it and then working toward completion is such an important thing to learn to do. Thanks for a great description and challenge to learn to see it correctly.
Blessings,
Rayna
Rayna, thanks so much for stopping by on bless-a-blogger! I continue to learn that how I/we view things through the lens of the Holy Spirit makes a difference. It’s heartened me many times in my ongoing journey. Life-long learner…may we all be in the things that eternally matter. One day we shall be complete and finished! Blessings to you.