Step 2 Overcoming Perfectionism: Let It Go

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" Col. 3:23.

By: Carol McClain @carol_mcclain

I hate to break it to you. But being the mentor I am, I will do my duty and let you know.

Let go and let God.

You can't be good at everything.

Nor should you attempt to do everything your heart desires.

Lately, the urge to paint has hit. I love the smell of oils and turpentine. The feel of paint gliding on a canvas delights me. I'm not especially good at it--primitive would be a kinder way of describing my painting skills.

However, my two passions--writing and glass--consume my time. My gifts lie in these two areas. To expand my skills into painting or quilting or working the sound room at church would only dilute my time and everything will suffer.

What is your passion? What grabs your attention and drives you forward? Where do your talents lie?

Don't feel guilty in indulging your free time in these endeavors--be it serving in church, running marathons, volunteering in the Lions Club, visiting neighbors or restoring antiques
.

You are not called to be excellent at everything

1. Find your passion
2. Narrow your focus
3. Enjoy your activity
4. Do it well, but don't worry about being as good as someone else

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Quick Tweets

Pursue your uniqueness with excellence, not perfection. (Click to tweet)

God expects joy, not perfection, in our work. (click to tweet)

Be Ye (Im) Perfect: We Don't Have to be Perfect

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mat. 5:48

This verse tormented me for years. Perfect? Not possible, not for me, but believe me, I tried.

Perfection takes a lot of work

The first church I belonged to demanded this of me. Still, no matter how much effort I put into being perfect, I never fit their mold. If I showed my emotions--I was too histrionic. Controlling my feelings made me cold. Questioning a doctrine categorized me as not having faith, but following things blindly tormented my conscience.

I would read verses like Matthew 5:48, or 1 Peter 1:16, and strive more and more to be as holy as God.

The verse found in Mt. 11: 30 stating our burden was light, the yoke easy further condemned me. I found no peace in perfectionism. The burden was too hard for me to bear.

Then I discovered I did not have to be perfect. I did not have to conform to someone's notion of a Christian woman. I just had to be me.

Not my our works
of righteousness

I discovered the scandal of grace. 

We cannot be perfect. It's not by our works of righteousness that grant us heaven, that give us serenity on earth. It's Jesus Christ.

The point of Matthew 5: 48, my tormenting scripture, is that perfection is not a human potential. Only one being ever attained God's perfection: God Himself in the form of Jesus. Ergo--Impossible for humans.

Holiness is not ours. It's His.

And the New American Standard Version of 1 Peter 1:16 says "You shall be holy; for I am holy." (emphasis mine).

And that emphasis holds the key. We are not perfect on our own--only in Jesus. You shall be because...

Of course, as we follow Jesus, we

 "shall be holy" more and more as we abide in him. However, when we die, He's not going to point out how we failed. He's going to say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Have you struggled with the weight of perfectionism? What has it done to you? Do you want to be set free? How does that happen or how have you conquered it?

Come join me as we discover how much we're loved.