Reverend Marco Ste-Marie

Repentance is about moving forward, not about getting it all right.

Many people think, “If I can’t be perfect, why bother?” We get discouraged. We mess up. We want to quit. But that’s not what God wants. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s asking for progress.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.” Paul wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes. But he kept moving forward. He kept pressing on. That’s what matters.

For the original church, this was a call to perseverance. Life was hard. Faith was hard. But they didn’t give up. They got up, again and again, and moved closer to God.

Why does this matter for us? Because life will knock you down. You will make mistakes. Repentance is not a one-and-done. It’s a daily choice to move forward. To try again. To get better, not bitter.

If you think you have to be perfect, you will never try. You’ll hide. You’ll fake it. You’ll get tired and give up. Perfectionism kills progress. It keeps you trapped in shame and fear.

Embrace the process. Celebrate small steps. Progress matters. God isn’t waiting for you to get it all right before He loves you. He loves you now. Each time you repent, you grow stronger. You get closer. You become more like Christ. Repentance is your path to renewal.

“But what if I mess up again?”
You will. We all do. That’s why God’s grace is new every morning.

Progress is slow. Growth takes time. DON’T GIVE UP. THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY FAIL IS TO STOP TRYING.

Admitting wrong is hard. It wounds our pride. Many would rather defend their actions or blame others than say, “I was wrong.” We naturally want to see ourselves as good and capable. Repentance requires humility. For some, that feels like weakness or failure. The truth is, humility is the only way to grow.

If you wait for perfection, you’ll wait forever. But if you start with progress, you’ll find hope. You’ll find change. You’ll find life.

Think of a child learning to walk. They fall again and again. But each time they get up, they get stronger. Soon, they run. That’s repentance—falling, getting up, moving forward.

You don’t have to be perfect—just willing to start again.

Where are you holding back because you’re afraid to fail?
What would change if you focused on progress, not perfection?
Are you willing to get up, one more time, and try again?

Drop the weight of perfection. Take the next step. God is with you every move.