Lessons I've Learned on Perfectionism
And a blessing to share
Happy July!
I’m Feeling Blessed…
I finally have a “new to me” laptop. My middle son gave me his barely-used laptop, as my old one had been hanging by a thread to keep going. It was old, warped, slow, challenged to function, and pieces falling apart. I feel so blessed and still smiling here as I’m happily tapping my computer keys today. All letters and numbers funtioning well and in a speedy manner. :D
Now… on to today’s topic…
(Quick side note: My thoughtful Thursdays and other set days didn’t seem to go over as well as I hoped, so I’m just sending this on a day when I have a few spare minutes to write.)
I’ve wrestled for years with “perfectionism.” I think I kind of got a handle on it when my three sons were little… my former college friend, knowing me well, was surprised by how much my Christmas tree was in disarray because my little ones loved to touch the edges of the tree. I didn’t fuss or fret as long as they stayed out of the gifts underneath. haha.
But, over the years, perfectionism has still crept its ugly head into mine…like a gnawing parasite.
Perfectionism has led me to focus too much on myself. It’s also held me back in so many ways…
It told me to forget trying new recipes… you’ll never fix something as tasty as Mrs. Fancy Apron at church.
It told me to forget writing, you’ll never write like Mrs. Well-Wordy.
It told me to forget drawing, you’ll never draw as well as Mr. Master Artist.
It told me forget trying to make new friends or getting involved in a new ministry, you’ll never be as outgoing as Mrs. Bubbly Talker.
And let’s not forget how many projects that I failed to complete because it wasn’t good enough yet! — We need to set a reasonable time frame to complete a project and do our best work within that time frame…and then call it done!
Done is better than sitting on the side still waiting for perfection to come!
In reality, perfectionism will lead to discontentment to who God made you to be… Your talents and abilities and mine all differ… and striving to compare or being something or someone we are not is like saying God lacked wisdom in creating you and me.
God isn’t looking for our flawlessness…He’d rather have our faithfulness.
Striving for perfectionism leads to stress and robs our peace. It actually keeps us from our true potential.
All of our Bible heroes we read about in God’s Word had flaws. God lets us know about their good points and the bad. I believe we learn from both aspects… but it’s also a reminder that we’re not striving toward some fantasy character of perfectionism that we could never obtain.
We’re all a work in progress… let’s grow in grace together and encourage each other… and put our focal point on being a blessing to others, despite not having it perfect.
Above all, we want to bring glory to God in all that we do… and that doesn’t require being perfect, but being available.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” - II Peter 3:18 KJV
Let’s strive to do things for the Lord and not for our own satisfaction of perfection…
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." ~ Colossians 3:23-24 KJV
Let’s strive to do things for the Lord… as a labor of our love for Him.
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" - Hebrews 6:10-11 KJV
Let’s let go of perfection today… I’m not saying to be careless or neglectful, but I am saying, let’s embrace the abilities that God gave us. Yes, there’s always room for improvement…. but there’s no room to waste on perfectionism!
God bless you and your family,
Rhonda White, CWM
Get inspired! As always, feel free to snag the images from this page for your own creative use for your ministry, newsletter, social media, or whatever creative ideas you can spark up!
P.S. - My pick for July 4th’s dessert… This is what I’m planning to make! Looks so delicious and fairly easy!
Amen, Rhonda. I am becoming increasingly grateful for my imperfections. I even add little "imperfections" into my doodles as if to exclaim--"I am human!"
Psalm 8:4-5 "What is man that You remember him? And the son of man that You visit him? Yet You made him a little less than Elohim, and have crowned him with esteem and splendor."