November 1: Breaking Free: When Perfect Becomes the Enemy of Good

 Breaking Free: When Perfect Becomes the Enemy of Good

Scripture:

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Anonymous, Bodden Town SDA

The incomplete task list mocked me from my desk. Despite having the ability and skills, I found myself stuck in an endless cycle of procrastination and perfectionism. If I couldn’t do it perfectly, my brain reasoned, better not to start at all. This pattern had followed me through life, creating a paradoxical dance of high achievement and paralyzed inaction.

It wasn’t until my adult ADHD diagnosis that the pieces started falling into place. Those endless hours of procrastination followed by frantic bursts of hyperfocus, the overwhelming need for everything to be “just right,” the constant reorganizing of tasks without actually completing them – these weren’t character flaws. They were part of how my brain was wired.

Through counseling, I learned that my perfectionism wasn’t really about being perfect – it was about avoiding the discomfort of potentially failing or producing something less than ideal. My ADHD brain, with its unique way of processing, had developed this as a coping mechanism. But God had a different lesson in store for me about grace, acceptance, and the beauty of imperfect progress.

Learning to “trick” my brain into tackling tasks became both a practical and spiritual journey. Breaking projects into smaller, manageable chunks wasn’t just a productivity hack – it was a lesson in humility, accepting that even small steps forward are valuable in God’s eyes. Setting timers for focused work periods became a practice in trusting that God’s grace covers both my efforts and my limitations.

For others struggling with perfectionism:

1. Recognize that perfectionism often masks deeper fears – of failure, judgment, or not being enough.

2. Start with small, achievable goals – progress over perfection. Simply making the bed when you get up can kickstart your brain in gear for a more productive day.

3. Learn to distinguish between excellence and perfectionism – one honors God, the other can become an idol.

4. Embrace systems and strategies that work for your brain, even if they’re different from others’.

To fellow believers walking alongside perfectionists:

1. Avoid phrases like “just try harder” or “just do it” – for many of us, it’s not that simple.

2. Celebrate progress and effort, not just perfect outcomes.

3. Understand that what looks like procrastination might be paralysis from overwhelming standards.

4. Help create safe spaces where imperfect attempts are valued and supported.

God has shown me that His power is made perfect in weakness – including the weaknesses I tried so hard to hide or overcome. My ADHD and perfectionist tendencies aren’t mistakes in His design; they’re opportunities to experience His grace in unique ways. Through counseling and faith, I’ve learned to work with my brain’s wiring rather than against it, finding strategies that honor both how God made me and what He’s called me to do.

Today, I’m learning that “good enough” really can be good enough. That starting, even imperfectly, is better than never beginning at all. That God’s grace covers not just our sins but our attempts, our failures, and our endless lists of unfinished tasks. In this journey of breaking free from perfectionism, I’m discovering that true perfection isn’t found in flawless performance, but in perfectly trusting a God who loves us exactly as we are, while helping us become who He’s created us to be.

Prayer:

Gracious God,
Thank You for loving me even when I fall short of my own expectations. Help me to rest in the truth that Your grace is sufficient and that progress, not perfection, brings You glory. Teach me to release my fears of failure, to start where I am, and to trust You with the outcomes. May my imperfect efforts reflect Your perfect love at work within me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.