Author Dorothy Littell Greco writes: ‘For some perfectionists, the fear of making a mistake results in a sort of paralysis, causing us to agonise over every decision…To help you discern if [perfectionism] has crept into your life…consider the following questions: a) Are you comfortable asking for help or only offering it? b) Are you able to receive appropriate criticism without getting defensive? c) Do you have a nagging belief that you are falling short of some illusive standard? d) Do you harshly critique yourself? e) Are you able to experience joy? An absence of joy might be one of the best indicators [of] perfectionism. It slowly squeezes the joy out of life by reducing creativity, accentuating mistakes, and making us slaves of success.’ The truth is, no matter how hard we struggle, we can never be perfect enough to satisfy the sin debt against us. And we don’t have to be! ‘Christ gave himself…for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honour at God’s right hand…For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy’ (vv. 12, 14 TLB). Notice: when God makes you perfect, it’s going to be for forever, and once you get your head wrapped around that truth, it will change your life. Gigi Graham Tchividjian says, ‘We don’t have to be perfect to be a blessing. We are asked only to be real, trusting in His perfection to cover our imperfection, knowing that one day we will finally be all that Christ saved us for and wants us to be.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.