PERFECTIONISM: The rigorous rejection of anything less than perfect.
This is the beginning of a new blog series on the prison of perfectionism… that lie that keeps us in bondage and unable to walk in freedom.
We all live behind these bars in one way or another… in one area or another.
Not only do we readily accept this lie in our own lives, but we pass it on through our relationships with others.
Some of us spend our lives striving for our own perfection. Some of us expect it in others.
For many of us… we subscribe to both.
We spend countless hours and dollars trying to have
the perfect home…
the perfect body…
the perfect children…
the perfect marriage…
the perfect walk with Christ…
the perfect perspective…
the perfect lasagna…
the perfect ________ (fill in your own).
And we also spend countless hours trying to hide our failures… our shortcomings… our flaws…
… our humanness.
Why?
Because we want acceptance.
We want to feel loved.
It helps us define our sense of value.
But we’re missing it.
While earthly love and approval is fleeting, God loves us for who we are. He proudly designed every detail of… you. The Creator of the world thinks you are amazing.
He always has.
He always will.
Apparently… that’s not enough.
Instead of allowing that truth to wash over us… rather than believing there is nothing more we can be or do to be loved by God more… we strive.
We try harder to be better.
We work longer to be smarter.
We train longer to be faster.
We strive.
Now I’m not suggesting that setting goals or trying to improve in life is a bad thing. We weren’t designed to be complacent and passive.
But the problem comes when we find ourselves striving for something that is not humanly possible. We get into trouble when we let those earthly things define our self-worth.
When we believe the only way we’ll be loved by others (or loved by ourselves) is “if” certain criteria are met, our goals become unhealthy.
We become imprisoned in perfectionism.
And when we find ourselves in that prison, we lose our focus on God and begin to obsess about… ourselves.
Exactly like the Enemy planned.
Drat.
You see, God didn’t create us to be perfect… just pliable.
We’re going to spend some time this summer unpacking the joy-draining doctrine of perfectionism that tells us we’re not good enough.
I’ve subscribed to it for too long. You, too?
So let’s be done.
Michael J. Fox says it in a nutshell… “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”
♥
REALITY CHECK: When the world says you’re not good enough… God says you’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Who will you choose to believe?
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Freedom from perfectionism is one of the greatest gifts. Once I accepted that different is EXACTLY what God wanted – we’re all originals! – such a burden was lifted. His plan for each person is uniquely designed specifically for them; rather for their walk with and for Him.
I love your last statement – it is a CHOICE on who I will believe!!! That means it is not based on feeling, past, experiences, etc… it is a daily decision I must make on who I will allow to define me.
It is a decision… and a very intentional one. Yes, Jeanelle!
“Different is exactly what God wanted.” That’s a powerful statement Kim! What a shift in perspective… love it.
Cant wait to unpack my perfectionism and leave it unpacked never to be used again!
Me either, Amanda!
LOVE that quote! Will have to remember that and share it!
[...] If you missed the introduction to the series, you can find it here. [...]
[...] If you missed the introduction to the series, you can find it here. [...]