To catch up with our Lent journey, check out this post that explains our practice.
“Practice makes perfect.” I wish it did. I wish that ‘perfect’ was an attainable goal. In school I had a measurable target: get 100%. In life, the target is much less accessible.
I lived for a long time with the belief that if I wasn’t perfect, then I would be judged. My failures, my shortcomings, my weaknesses would be seen, criticized and deem me
unworthy. My identity was rooted in the idea of perfectionism, and it took a toll.
I actively silenced myself—in classrooms, on teams, even in prayer. “Why pray in front of others when I’ll just say the wrong words? It’s better just to listen and be quiet.” If I wasn’t certain that I would succeed—and succeed perfectly—in something, I found it easier to not even try.
Anxiety, depression, and a crippling fear of judgement held me in chains for too long.
This verse in 1 Corinthians reminds us that God isn’t about perfectionism. He isn’t looking to hand out gold stars for 100% grades in life or Christianity. God sees our trying, our struggling, failing, and trying again. He holds it all and does so without a judgement of condemnation.
When I began to step out in faith, willing to try and fail than to never try at all, something amazing happened. God honoured my faithfulness in the trying and showed me that
was all I ever needed in the first place. To use my voice in prayer now is often met with whispers from the Lord, affirmations that my voice matters—even if I sometimes use the wrong words.
I recently heard the adapted, “practice makes progress,” and my heart soared at the opportunity captured within this language. To practice, to try, to walk faithfully forward trusting that God sees our efforts… That’s so much better than striving ceaselessly for perfection.
When we are faithful to trusting God and moving in his Spirit, to following Jesus as he leads, then God too is faithful, in moving us forward—not into perfectionism, but into a beautiful progress marked by his loving kindness and grace.
READ
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58
REFLECT
Invite the Holy Spirit into your reflections and welcome the voice of Jesus to help you answer these questions.
1. How is the fear of death showing up in my life as perfectionism?
2. What lies am I believing about myself, others, or God that contribute to this fear?
RESPOND
Make confession.
Jesus, I surrender perfection to you and agree that faithfulness is the better pathway to life in you.
I renounce the lie that _____________________________________.
Now, choose repentance by turning toward God.
Today I choose to turn away from perfectionism and turn toward faithfulness.
Walk in repentance by turning towards others.
Jesus, who is someone that has been affected by the ways that perfectionism has expressed itself in my life? How can I be a person of life towards them by walking in faithfulness?
RECEIVE
Spend some time listening for the voice of Jesus and receiving his mercy and grace.
What gifts of life do you want to give me in exchange for the fear of death that causes me to turn to perfection to feel safe?
FAST
As a way of living into your repentance, consider fasting from social media and internet surfing. We recognize that some of you need to do these things for work, but what if that was it? What would a week without social media and the internet do to your ability to be present with Christ? What would it do to your levels of contentment? What if you just signed off for the week?
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