Chasing Perfection Steals Your Time!
Going Bananas
Early in our marriage, Mr. 4-Ever made the mistake of mentioning how much he enjoyed another woman’s banana bread. Not to be outdone, I took it upon myself to make his life complete by creating my own perfect loaf of banana bread. I tried a dozen recipes, but none of them turned out well.
We ate a lot of really mediocre banana bread and threw an obscene amount of banana bread in the trash. No matter what I did, I could not get the bread to come out right.
I whined. I obsessed … I was a nut-case.
Finally, Dave told me that his appetite for banana bread had waned and to quit wasting my time and our money.
Perfection steals your time!
Tell me I’m not the only one who lets the pursuit of perfection run (ruin) her life! If you need to re-do your hair, your makeup, your banana bread, your test score, and most of your conversations, you will waste a lot of time and energy chasing chasing perfection, too,
I wish I had a nickel for every dessert I trashed cuz the edges were overdone. Every brush I threw when my hair wasn’t just right. Every writing project I discarded cuz it wasn’t good enough.
Chasing perfection makes you miserable! That’s no way to live.
Here’s the Truth!
In a previous devotional, I wrote about the dis-ease of perfectionism and how not measuring up is so destructive. I suggested replacing the negative trash talk about comparisons in our head with the truth of God’s thoughts toward you.
You are enough. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
You are enough. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
This week, let’s stop chasing perfection so we can take back our time and joy. I’m preaching to the choir here. I was about ready to throw my laptop in the trash while writing this devo. I wanted to get it … perfect.
God whispered into my snit-fit, “Just do your best with the time you have to work on it. It will be good enough. Isn’t that hilarious? He so good!?!
Will you let God replace the lie that your work needs to be perfect with the truth of God’s word that says you only need to do your best.
Verse for today: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” Colossians 3:23-24
Prayer: Father, you created us to do our best but not be robbed of our joy, time and resources chasing perfection. Whisper your pleasure to us and with us. In Jesus Name. Amen.
PS Do not send me recipes for banana bread. I’m over it.
Hi
Yes l can relate. The first german chocolate cake l made . I forgot to let it cool off before I frosted it. It looked like the leaning tower of pizza.
I was sick.
Oh no! I hope it tasted better than it looked.
The good thing is you’ll never make that mistake again.
Hi!
I experienced that very thing today as I was answering questions in the back of a commentary called B E COURAGEOUS. I thought, I hope she, the leader, doesn’t call on me because I’m not sure if I have written down the answer she wanted. I did my best and that’s all I can do. I hope I’m not embarrassed with my answer’s.
Carol in Flushing, MI
Wheeeee, good for you, Carol. Love reading this. Thanks for posting.
Good enough!
This is a great reminder for me that I could use daily. Thank you.
Oh, girl, preaching to the choir!
God has a habit of revealing my flaws and fears so I have rich content for them every week.
Appreciate you Diana.
I have not written to you for a while, this last year has been hard for everyone, I am ready for covid to be over. One of my ministries is visiting the elder and people that are in the hospital and can’t get out to church. They are isolated and need company, I had a hard time going to see them because I didn’t want to take any kind of sickness to them
and you never know if you have been around someone that has covid until you come down with. I also felt isolated, I live alone and my family couldn’t come to see me.
One of my sons got a divorce and now is with another man, he said that he has been struggling all his life feeling that he was gay.
I have never seen him so happy and so is the man that he is with, who by the way is a very nice gentleman. I love to see them see them so happy, but what they are doing is wrong .
On December 11 2021 one of my sons passed away after many years of drinking and living on the streets, his lungs, liver, heart, and his mind were bad. He lived on the streets for 10 years and we didn’t know where he was, except when he called home collect then we knew from the phone bill where he was.
While he was on the streets 4 men beat him up with a tire iron and he had a closed head wound. After that, he had seizures for many years each one he had would cause more damage to his brain until his body just couldn’t take it anymore. I know he knew the Lord so he is now in heaven with his dad, and he no longer is hungry or cold or lost.
Sorry, this was so long, I have been struggling with this. I know that God is in control and that everything will be alright, but somethings are so hard and it takes me time to work through things.
thank you for listening to me and for all the messages you post.
jo I would like this just for you please
Jo, Lord have mercy, what a lot. I am so sorry to hear about your son who died after all he’d been through. Now to try to reconcile your mama’s heart seeing your other son so happy with what is true in the Bible is so hard.
Know this, Jesus is all about relationships, not judgement. Not your job to change your son. He knows you and how you believe. Love your boy, embrace his friend. Keep the communication open and love flowing.
This is so true. So many people never invite into their homes because it is never quite perfect. And nothing is nicer than to visit in home- quiet etc compared to noisy restaurants where you can’t really visit.
I so agree, Darlene. The first invitation is the hardest to make, but just try one date night at home (one couple or a girlfriend or 2) and watch the faces light up!
Should have asked “the other woman” what her recipe was!
I love receiving your devotionals. They always seem to come just when I need a lift. I was at the Women’s Retreat in Flagstaff and felt so rejuvenated. I was full of Jesus. Just wish I could feel that way everyday. Thank you for all of your inspirational shares. I look forward to them.
Thanks so much, Kathie. I was really good to be with you in Jan. I’m sure our paths will cross again.
I need reminded of this all too often. I read a book years ago titled “What’s Bad About BeingToo Good.” It’s written for teens, but still helpful to adults who struggle with perfectionism. It helped me realize a part of why I procrastinate and also acknowledge all I’ve missed out on because of that underlying fear of not measuring up. I cannot live God’s best life for me when I allow myself to be paralyzed by perfectionism! Love your devotionals; they hit home?