Perfection
Perfection
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. (Gal. 2:21)
I have a confession to make. I’m a perfectionist. As I write this devotional, I’ll revise it until my fingers are sore and finally send it to my editor, unsatisfied. Checking items off my to-do list gives me no satisfaction either. With the completion of each task, I see two more to be done. I often feel that what I have accomplished isn’t good enough, and I resist trying new things at which I may fail or that I think could possibly make me look foolish. It’s even hard for me to admit I’m wrong because it’s so hard for me to deal with failure. The images of beauty, success, and gorgeous homes on the magazines at the grocery check-out lines are reminders of what our culture thinks I should be.
I suppose knowing is half the battle because the more I recognize how my striving for perfection steals my joy, the more I want to change. In the Gospels, Jesus makes clear what He thinks of pharisaical perfectionists. I don’t want to make the mistake they did—knowing and doing all the right things while missing God’s grace. Though my perfectionism is ingrained, I’m thankful that “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). I can even change.
As Christian women we should desire to live a life worthy of our calling, but if we make being perfect our focus, we miss the grace and mercy of Christ on the cross—as if He died for nothing! Though trying to be perfect may seem good, perfectionism is actually a works-oriented symptom of ugly pride. We didn’t, nor could we ever, earn His love. We can choose to live in His love and grace, not under the tyranny of perfection.