This is a great article. I have suffered from perfectionism most of my life. I have been able to manage it so much more as I get older because I am quicker to release it to the Lord. The pressure and stress of trying to get everything right is overwhelming. It is sad to watch my son deal with the same thing. He suffers from depression more than anxiety and it centers around being perfect for God. He is growing though, which is really amazing! Thank you for sharing this message! It is so helpful.
Thank you for your kind words, Laura. I (Susan) can say the same -- I truly don't think my parents intended it to translate that way, but in my mind at least, my value and acceptance was directly linked to my behavior, my grades, my obedience. And I still struggle with it today as a result. Knowing that "Someone has already been perfect for me" is the most freeing truth I know for this problem, and is my spiritual medicine every time I feel a perfectionist episode coming on! I'm so sorry to hear that about your son, I know that grieves you, but we're grateful that you're seeing growth. And we'll join with you in praying that he continues to grow and heal. ♥️
You’re so welcome! Keeping what you said in mind is so helpful, “Someone has already been perfect for me.” It really is to freeing. Thank you for your prayers for my son … he is doing a bit better since he got married (she’s so amazing with him), but there’s still work to be done there. I am grateful we are close and God uses my own testimony to help him. So appreciate you! 🥰
That's so great to hear! Will continue to pray that the consistent love the both of you have for him will open his eyes to the kind of love the Father has for him. Thank you! We appreciate you as well... your posts are always an inspiration. ♥️
Dr. Mike and Susan, this was such a freeing message. The image of a perfectionist approaching every task as though they were crossing the Grand Canyon helped me understand why perfectionism creates so much anxiety and steals the joy from our accomplishments. Your reminder that “someone has already been perfect on your behalf” is so powerful. We do not have to carry the impossible burden of proving ourselves because Christ has already done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Thank you for pointing us away from anxious striving and toward resting in Him.
Thank you so much for such kind, encouraging words, Ally! You are a dear. We are thrilled this was helpful to you. As you know, that's what we want to do for each other... lift one another's burdens, encourage, strengthen, support. So if this did that in some way for you, that is a true honor and blessing to us.
This is such a powerful reflection. I’ll share that a few years ago is when the Lord revealed to me my tendencies toward perfectionism (and control). That control was costing me by replacing peace with anxiety. It’s a daily surrender to not pick up the desire to control and make things “perfect” but the peace of trusting in God’s perfection is freeing on the days I cling to that. The hardest part is the people around me who had come to expect perfection in the workplace.
Thank you so much for sharing that Bethany.♥️ I believe the enemy takes note of our weaknesses and then sets traps of all kinds that we’re most likely to fall for, because of these personality tendencies.
Your framework comes to mind so often because it’s such a workable paradigm for effectively overcoming whatever we’re struggling with. To first be aware of what we’re doing — and especially how it’s making us feel (Notice It)… and then call it out (Name It)… then invite the Lord into that specific problem, using His truth to counter it (Nurture It). So useful!
This is a great article. I have suffered from perfectionism most of my life. I have been able to manage it so much more as I get older because I am quicker to release it to the Lord. The pressure and stress of trying to get everything right is overwhelming. It is sad to watch my son deal with the same thing. He suffers from depression more than anxiety and it centers around being perfect for God. He is growing though, which is really amazing! Thank you for sharing this message! It is so helpful.
Thank you for your kind words, Laura. I (Susan) can say the same -- I truly don't think my parents intended it to translate that way, but in my mind at least, my value and acceptance was directly linked to my behavior, my grades, my obedience. And I still struggle with it today as a result. Knowing that "Someone has already been perfect for me" is the most freeing truth I know for this problem, and is my spiritual medicine every time I feel a perfectionist episode coming on! I'm so sorry to hear that about your son, I know that grieves you, but we're grateful that you're seeing growth. And we'll join with you in praying that he continues to grow and heal. ♥️
You’re so welcome! Keeping what you said in mind is so helpful, “Someone has already been perfect for me.” It really is to freeing. Thank you for your prayers for my son … he is doing a bit better since he got married (she’s so amazing with him), but there’s still work to be done there. I am grateful we are close and God uses my own testimony to help him. So appreciate you! 🥰
That's so great to hear! Will continue to pray that the consistent love the both of you have for him will open his eyes to the kind of love the Father has for him. Thank you! We appreciate you as well... your posts are always an inspiration. ♥️
Thank you so much!! Your prayers mean the world! 🥰
Dr. Mike and Susan, this was such a freeing message. The image of a perfectionist approaching every task as though they were crossing the Grand Canyon helped me understand why perfectionism creates so much anxiety and steals the joy from our accomplishments. Your reminder that “someone has already been perfect on your behalf” is so powerful. We do not have to carry the impossible burden of proving ourselves because Christ has already done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Thank you for pointing us away from anxious striving and toward resting in Him.
Thank you so much for such kind, encouraging words, Ally! You are a dear. We are thrilled this was helpful to you. As you know, that's what we want to do for each other... lift one another's burdens, encourage, strengthen, support. So if this did that in some way for you, that is a true honor and blessing to us.
This is such a powerful reflection. I’ll share that a few years ago is when the Lord revealed to me my tendencies toward perfectionism (and control). That control was costing me by replacing peace with anxiety. It’s a daily surrender to not pick up the desire to control and make things “perfect” but the peace of trusting in God’s perfection is freeing on the days I cling to that. The hardest part is the people around me who had come to expect perfection in the workplace.
Thank you so much for sharing that Bethany.♥️ I believe the enemy takes note of our weaknesses and then sets traps of all kinds that we’re most likely to fall for, because of these personality tendencies.
Your framework comes to mind so often because it’s such a workable paradigm for effectively overcoming whatever we’re struggling with. To first be aware of what we’re doing — and especially how it’s making us feel (Notice It)… and then call it out (Name It)… then invite the Lord into that specific problem, using His truth to counter it (Nurture It). So useful!