Tag: The Bible

The Perfectionism Monster

Scared. Out. Of. My. Mind. That’s how I was feeling regarding our church hand-bell rehearsal yesterday. We will be playing for the first time during our church’s morning services this upcoming Sunday, and I was not feeling ready–at all.

A lot of it has to do with my perfectionism. I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist; and not proud of it! 🙂 I have a deep yearning to meet all expectations, please every person that I come in contact with, excel at every opportunity that I undertake, and never, EVER, make a mistake.

I believe that at least some of my desire for perfection stems from my struggles with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Another part of it could spring from incidences in my past which made me feel un-loved.

Maybe you can empathize with me? With the craving to have all things work out just as planned? It’s like I want everything wrapped up with a neat little ribbon before being introduced into my life. How far from reality this expectation really is!

But how to combat it? It seems to infiltrate every aspect of my being. I try to fight it, but it only seems to grow stronger–like a cookie-monster whose acquisition of cookies does not satiate him, like it should, but only causes his desire for cookies to grow.

cookie-monster

The only way that I know to counteract this natural tendency of mine is to kill it with grace. Yes, God wants us to be “perfect,” (or complete) and “holy,” (or set apart from sin). But He also knows that this is a process, and that it is not something that happens overnight!

I (and all followers of Christ) are in the process of being sanctified–or being transformed, moment-by-moment, into the image of Jesus. This is accomplished through reading God’s Word, through prayer, through fellowship with other believers, through service to others, through trials…and any other number of things. I believe that what’s important is not so much how “perfect” we are, but how surrendered to Him we are willing to be. Because the truth about perfection is that Jesus Christ is the only perfect Being, and He is the only One who can do this work of change in our lives.

But back to killing perfectionism with grace. A chapter of Scripture that has really changed my life and my viewpoint of God is Psalm 103. I would encourage you to read the entire chapter, and you can do that here. But I will share with you a few of my favorite verses from this passage.

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.

God understands us! He considers Himself our Father, and we His children.

Lord, help us to remember how much you love us when we are attacked by the “perfectionism monster!”

perfectionism

P.S. My hand-bell practice went a lot better than I expected, thank the Lord! 🙂 It seems that when I relax and breathe, I’m able to think more clearly, enjoy what I’m doing more, and just focus on doing my best for my Savior!

Photo credit (for cookie monster): Unknown

A Greater Purpose

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 
~Romans 8:18; 28-30

Have you ever thought that God may have a greater purpose for us than just making us happy?

I love the verse Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” But if you look at the verses around it, a larger perspective seems to be given.

In verse 18 of Chapter 8, Paul writes that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Also, connected to the end of Romans 8:28 (regarding God working all things for our good) is verse 29, which states: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

God wants to conform His children into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ! In this way, He receives the glory that He is due. And many times, He uses trials in our lives to make us more like Jesus.

Yes, God works out everything for our good, and He wants what is best for us. I believe this wholeheartedly! But sometimes He may accomplish His work in us through circumstances that we would not choose for ourselves. Circumstances that are difficult; uncomfortable; trying. But He knows what He is doing, and He knows that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (vs 18). He has a greater purpose!

This is often difficult to believe and accept. Truthfully, I am having a hard time wrestling with this truth right now. Over the past week, circumstances and situations have not been ideal. They have not turned out the way that I would have wanted. It seems as if my prayers are not being answered.

But I must believe that God knows what He is doing, and that He is working all of these difficult situations out for my good–and to make me more like Christ!

If you are struggling with difficult circumstances today and are feeling discouraged, do not lose heart! God does have a purpose, and He does have a plan. He does know what is best for us; and even though the path may be difficult and not what we would call ideal, in His great love for us He is working it all out for our good–both in this lifetime and for eternity!

autumn-path

Come to Me

come-to-me-2

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

~Matthew 11:28-30