Staying Free After Breaking FreeSample

MAGNIFY JESUS

As a child, I remember being fascinated with my grandfather’s magnifying glass used for reading small print. Grandpa had a couple of magnifiers, if my memory serves me correctly. One was round, and the other was rectangular in shape and had a light. Pressing the button would engage a small beacon of light to illuminate the subject matter you were trying to see.

Of course, I wasn’t using the magnifying glass to enlarge print on a page. I was more interested in looking at things like the leather on my grandfather’s chair or carpet fibers beneath my feet. I discovered that the further I held the magnifying glass from an object, the more warped the image appeared.

Even adults can find themselves looking at life through what seems like a magnifying glass. I have very high expectations of myself and can end up spending hours performing a task that should only take minutes. I end up wasting precious moments trying to redo that which was likely done well-enough the first time.

As I think about what drives my passion for perfectionism, I must be honest; it stems from pride and insecurity—two qualities that are unbecoming of a Jesus-follower. I’m looking for the approval of others, seeking to control the world around me, hoping to find peace. Unfortunately, it's a farce—a ruse cleverly deployed by the enemy.

While peace and security are honorable qualities to aspire towards, I was going about it all wrong. Human control leads to chaos because our perception and judgment have become warped by a broken worldview, much like the distortion created by my grandfather’s magnifying glass.

Peace (the kind that is lasting) can only be found in one place—Jesus.

There is a way to experience peace on earth, but the way to discover it is to shake off our human impulse to control the things around us and, instead, surrender to the One who knows exactly how to handle every detail of our lives.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are there any areas of your life that tempt you to strive for perfectionism? If so, what are they, and what might be driving your compulsion?

PRAYER

Father God, please help me to set healthy boundaries for myself when it comes to striving to be perfect. Help me to know the difference between doing my best and trying to please or seek the approval of others. Give me your peace that passes all understanding so that I can stay on the path of freedom in You. Amen.