Stop Trying to be Perfect
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
I came across a helpful article titled "Don't Just Accept Failure, Expect It!" by Saar Oran. We live in a society where admitting to failure is often seen as a sign of weakness. It is as if good, strong, successful people have the capacity to be perfect. You see it in certain self-help books that tell you to dress for success, walk with purpose, stand tall, and never admit failure!
This emotional dishonesty is antithetical to the Christian faith. We understand that Christ alone was the only human being to be perfect. Yet, we get so surprised and angry when other people fail us. Perhaps even worse, we get overwhelmed when we admit our own failures, even to ourselves. Failure can even be a gift, because it helps us understand our fundamental need for God. Failure helps us realize we cannot live life meaningfully without our Triune God.
We should live life with an expectation that occasional failure is a reality, and we should not respond with personal shame. Overcoming our limitations is essential for living a healthy, faithful, and enriching life. Begin with yourself. Before you try to "fix" someone else, remember the old phrase, "Physician, heal thyself." Work on addressing your fear of failure in your own life. Begin to recognize, rationally, the impossibility of anyone living beyond failure.
Finally, pray for God to bring wholeness that doesn't require perfection. Pray for God to bless you with the gift of grace. Failure is not a death sentence. Grace overcomes failure. God understands our inability to be perfect. God doesn't condemn us for our failures, but calls on us to trust even more. Begin this process of cleansing yourself of the burden that is perfectionism. Your faith will become stronger, and it will make for a happier you.
