PERFECTIONISM: what a lofty burden to carry! Courageously you tie your hair back, summon your hard-core motivational tunes and set your jaw straight, thinking... well, someone has to do it. It might as well be me.
Well hello, you beautiful, strong-willed creature.
It’s me. I’m the problem, it’s me.
I would love to tell you that I have completely mastered the art of getting rid of my perfectionist tendencies, but that would be incorrect: I’m a type A personality who loves all things color-coded. I rejoice when things are organized and the to-do list is checked off. I don’t have it all together and tend to remember my mistakes way more than my victories—but I’m hoping I can pass along some truths that might help both of us move in the right direction.
Have you ever tried to maintain this lifestyle of being perfect? You've set your mind on that trophy, and you are going to get it. You have set goals, and you have achieved them. You're good at it. You are the friend everyone counts on. You send thoughtful thank you cards, go the gym regularly, and aim to make it through the week without eating anything full of preservatives. You cook from scratch, your house is spotless, and you just attended your second service gig of the month—okay, you try too. Very often than not, you succeed with flying colors and end your day with a contented, well-pleased smile. You've chosen your perfectly placed path. You rest well knowing that you succeeded.
Sure, these are all wonderful things! Be proud of your accomplishments.
BUT TAKE A STEP BACK. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.
Are you exhausted? Do you struggle balancing between what you feel like you should do and what you actually need to do? Do you catch yourself edging your toe to an invisible line that labels your endeavors as extremely creative or mere insane? Or, on the flip side, are you spending way too much time and effort trying to keep up with everyone else's version of perfect? Does social media subconsciously remind you of how imperfect you must be? If you are mentally aspiring to reach a level of perfection - trying to be the best at everything - eventually, you are going to crash and burn. And, to what extent? Worse, after giving everything you've got, you may feel like you can never hit the mark. What is the mark? Am I good enough? Was that enough? Was that better than yesterday? These legit questions reverberate off the walls of your mind as you try to coax yourself to fall asleep. What IS good enough?
God has not called you to a life of perfection but instead a life of progress.
SOLUTION: YOU NEED A SAVIOR Recognize that you are human. You will never be good enough. In fact, you are so human that God sent His PERFECT Son to die for you. Do you know why? Because you are not perfect. You never will be. He gave you His Son because you are not good enough - you are not pretty enough, fit enough, kind enough, humble enough. No amount of good deeds could get you into His presence. No matter how perfect you think that day was, it wasn't good enough to get you to the feet of Jesus. Let that sink in. This is not a slap in the face but instead a flag of triumph! Let that good news sweep over you like a fresh fall breeze that summons victory. This burden of perfection you have brazenly carried can be permanently dropped at the cross. You don't have to be perfect -- not for you, not for your news feed, not for anyone. Hope is literally a breath away. Rejoice, loved one! FLIP YOUR PERSPECTIVE This truth does not mean that you're off the hook. It is not an excuse to throw in the towel and aspire to nothing. Your dreams have not been shattered, and your work ethic does not need to be criticized. It does, however, remind you that you need a flipped perspective. You need Someone bigger than you helping you with each task, each conversation, each moment. You need authentic accountability. Ask yourself: who are you working for? Who are you striving to please? TRUTH: If the answer is anything other than Jesus, you need a new perspective.
Recognize that you need Him and that you want Him directing your life. With all the voices crying out to you, you want His voice to be the loudest. You want to live a life full of joy, full of grave success. Tell Him that. Ask Him for help. Ask Him to define - and REDEFINE - success for you. Let Him carry this burden of perfectionism. Let Him remind you that you are only accountable to Him.
Once you hand over this weight, He will change the way you think about things - that's just how a relationship with Him works. His desires become your desires. It's like working for an amazing boss - you want to wholeheartedly please Him, and He wants to bless you beyond measure. An incredible partnership is formed, and your mind can finally rest. You rest knowing that He will love you all of your days - through imperfect failures and shining success, He will be found.
THE ENDGAME Ultimately, your goal should be to please Him, to live a life worthy of His calling - to give your best every day. If you are honest with yourself, isn't His approval the real trophy you are trying to attain? Let me paint that picture for you: with everything stripped away and an audience of one, it's going to be you standing alone before Jesus taking account of how you have lived your life for Him. You want His blessing more than anything. Did you forget already? That stamp of approval happened the minute you accepted what He did for you on the cross. You don't have to be perfect because He is perfect.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
God has not called you to a life of perfection but instead a life of progress. He wants you to seek Him, and when you seek Him with your whole heart, He will be found! Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us of one of His glorious promises: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. There is rest at His feet. WOW, that is truth!
LET'S CALL IT PROGRESS Once you have given your life over to Jesus, each day can become a victory. However, your day is not a 'win' based on your list of accomplishments or checked twice to-do list, but instead on what He has already done for you. You don't need to revel on 'Keeping Up with the Jones' or carrying a load larger than you can fathom to prove that you've got it all taken care of. It's already been accomplished on the cross. When you're partnering with Jesus to carry out His mission, your steeped vision fixed on a truly perfect path fades. It's not about you anymore, it's about Him. It's not about preservatives, your perfect diet or your chiseled abs. It has nothing to do with the number of likes on your super-creative Instagram posts or your long list of connections on LinkedIn. It's not about your house, your car, your designer bag or top of the line shoes. It's not about what you can do, but instead what has been done for you. What you do with that information changes the endgame.
Wipe off those bootstraps and grab that ponytail holder, for your adventure is just beginning!
YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS. You are not working for yourself, but for Jesus.
This burden of perfectionism is no longer yours to carry. He will carry it for you. He will carry it for you when you seek Him with all your heart.
Father, the world seems to love perfectionism. In the eyes of those around me, I feel successful when I accomplish everything on my to-do list and when I go over and beyond in my day at work. Although those can be good things, help these characteristic traits of my life and work ethic not interfere with the entire reason I am still here on this earth: WORKING FOR YOU. I want to let go of the expectations I have of myself and see myself through Your eyes. Let me see what you see in me. Take this weight I am carrying. I lay this burden of trying to be perfect at your feet. Jesus, get rid of all distractions and let my vision be fixed upon You, the Author and Finisher of my faith. In Your name, amen.
