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Thoughtful Devotions & Bible Verses for the Perfectionist

Thoughtful Devotions & Bible Verses for the Perfectionist

Posted by Samantha DePeel

January 31, 2022

Who else has been feeling the pressure lately? It's easy to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. Whether you're focusing on your community, career, being a mom, or a mix of them all, time is quickly passing us by as each day is filled to the brim with chores, projects, impromptu emergencies, and work stressors. It's especially hard to slow down and relax if you consider yourself to be a perfectionist. Every task must be dealt with the utmost care and efficiency, leaving no stone unturned, no task unhandled. The perfectionists out there know just how hard it is to simply be at peace with your surroundings, especially when there's a mile-long list of to-do's in the planner.

Today, we're speaking directly to you, perfectionists! You work so hard, and the loved ones in your life see your dedication, and so do we. You deserve some much-needed rest and reflection, as we all do. We're taking a moment to lift you up in prayer and provide some helpful Bible verses to meditate on the next time you feel overwhelmed or like you don't measure up.

His Grace Is Sufficient for You

"But he said to me, “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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We enter into a complicated, hurtful space when we try to earn our worth or love. Perfectionists are especially susceptible to this practice, as we're naturally inclined to push, push, push for what we want, despite the assurance that we can slow down and be at peace. As perfectionists, we tend to make sure every moment of our day is filled with some sort of meaningful task. Leaving no minute to spare, we hustle hard to tie up every loose end, dot the i's and cross the t's. There's this innate fear that if we slow down, we lose what's comfortable and known to us, which is busyness. 

As we know, Jesus Himself led a slowed down, peaceful existence. He valued dedication and kingdom work, absolutely, but when you read the Gospels you'll be struck by how slow and methodical Jesus was with His daily schedule. Most of His infamous accounts were impromptu meetings he had in the streets, simply encountering someone with a need. He paid attention to His surroundings. As He goes about His day, you'll see the disciples reacting to these often stressful events as many of us would—with a hurried sense of anxiety. This leper must be healed, this work must be done, these people must be fed, this person must repent, and the list goes on. When you think about it, the need for Jesus in His community must have been overwhelming and the work seemingly insurmountable. And yet, how did Jesus respond? He made plans and was active, but ultimately entered into each day with open hands, ready to receive whatever the Father had to give to Him. Jesus knew exactly who He was. He didn't need to worry about earning the Father's love.

This discovery leads us to a hard, but necessary truth: no matter our efforts, we can't hustle or white-knuckle our way to peace, discipleship, or that feeling or worth. At least, not without the deep, inner work of Christ in us. We see this in Jesus' life, but perhaps more importantly, in His death.

By Grace Through Faith

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love in which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not a result of works, so that no one may boast." ~ Ephesians 2:4-10

Through Jesus' death on the cross, our sins have been erased and we've been given full access to God. Not only do we get to enjoy Him forever, but we have been justified. We don't have to work in order to earn His love or acceptance. Again, Godly works are important, absolutely. See the book of James for that. While some may find this news relieving, others may be slightly disappointed. "Really? But I work so hard! I accomplish so much through my own efforts." It's easy to play the comparison game, look to the person next to you, and say, "Well I work harder than them!" We invite you to sit with Jesus' work on the cross and consider how very loved and forgiven you are! We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we all need a savior. Luckily for us, we have one.

So perfectionists, you are dearly loved. You have been intricately and wonderfully made. We admire your dedication to your work and your passion for life. You inspire us to live each day fully, and not let a single moment pass us by. We hope you realize how loved you are, despite your daily output. We hope you find moments to rest in God's love and reflect on what He has done for you. We hope you are able to silence the lies of the enemy saying that you're not good enough, or if you just work a little harder, then you'll earn love. It's simply not true. You are loved and forgiven exactly as you are. Please know that. 

The Perfect Reminder (That We're Not Perfect!)

 

This t-shirt just about sums it up, right? By no means are we perfect, or deserve access to God, and yet, Jesus, who knew no sin, took on our sins that we may be saved. It's all to Jesus we owe our gratitude, our devotion, our lives. With this news, we can be hopeful for what's to come, and have more peace of mind knowing that we have been fully justified and forgiven. We can walk confidently as the women God made us to be. Need a little reminder? Shop our selection of our Christian apparel, with collections featuring some of your favorite verses and imagery. 

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