We’ve all scrolled through Instagram marveling at picture-perfect homes and gourmet meals. It’s easy to think that our own lives don’t measure up.

But let’s ditch the comparison game.

Your home, with all its quirks and imperfections, is a unique and welcoming space.

I don’t really struggle with my wardrobe on my own. That is, until Instagram starts showing me endless posts of trendy women in stylish outfits, all telling me where to buy their clothes. Suddenly, my closet feels inadequate. The thing is, if I didn’t follow certain accounts, Instagram wouldn’t have the power to make me feel this way. So I’ve had to mute or unfollow a few accounts and try to shift my algorithm, hoping to stop the constant reminders of clothes I don’t actually need.

What do you see on Instagram? If you are inundated with accounts that show you what food to make, how to dress your table, or how to decorate your home so that you feel inadequate to invite people in, maybe it’s time to take a look at what you are served or what you follow and how you can change that.

Hospitality is not about impressing others.

It’s about encouraging and edifying each other in truth and love. It’s about creating a space where people feel safe to be themselves, where laughter and tears are shared, where lasting memories are made, and where Jesus wants to show up and love His people.

By inviting people into your home to sit around your table, you are inviting people to experience Jesus in a deeper and more intimate way.

Here are a few things you can try as you begin to consider ways to focus on connection instead of perfection.

1. Curate your feed. Take time to review the accounts you follow on social media. Unfollow or mute those that contribute to feelings of inadequacy or comparison. Instead, seek out accounts that inspire you, promote authenticity, encourage you to open your home just as it is, and point you back toward Jesus.

2. Practice open-hearted invitations. Make it a point to invite different people into your home regularly, whether they’re neighbors, coworkers, or members of your church. By reaching out and getting to know people outside your inner circle, you increase the number of people you impact and begin to expand the ways in which you relate and share experiences with them.

3. Host storytelling sessions. Host a storytelling night with friends where everyone can share personal stories. You might choose a theme—like travel adventures, childhood anecdotes, or the sketchiest restaurant that you’d visit again—or keep it open-ended. Be flexible with where the stories take you. Fostering conversation this way creates an intimate atmosphere that honors vulnerability and authenticity over aesthetics. This type of gathering not only deepens your relationship with others but also creates a memorable evening filled with laughter. Not to mention, this is a great way to connect with people.

Hospitality isn’t about putting on a show for others; it’s about uplifting and supporting each other with your whole authentic self. I find this a bit freeing, I don’t have it all together, and that’s okay!

God isn’t asking me to, but instead He’s asking that my door stay open. Because when I invite people into my home and gather around my table, I’m giving them the chance to connect with Jesus in a more personal way.

So are you ready to drop the perfectionism and swing open your door? Let’s celebrate the beauty of imperfect hospitality.

“Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay” 1 Peter 4:9.

Adapted from Let The Biscuits Burn by Abby Kuykendall. Copyright © 2025 by Abby Kuykendall. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.

Connect with God today in 1 Peter 4!