Let’s talk about something that sneaks into our lives quietly but carries a heavy weight: perfectionism pretending to be excellence.
You know how it goes. You say, “I’m not trying to be perfect, I just want to do things with excellence.” It sounds noble. God-honoring, even. And as Christian women, we often wear that phrase like a badge of honor, especially when we’re building our business, managing our homes, or serving in ministry.
But if we pull back the curtain, what we often find underneath isn’t excellence at all.
It’s perfectionism in a pretty dress.
It’s the constant reworking of a project because it’s not quite right.
It’s the hesitation to start something new because it might not turn out just so.
It’s the belief that if we don’t meet an invisible, unattainable standard, we’ve somehow failed – God, others, or ourselves.
Excellence doesn’t demand that. But perfectionism does.
Perfectionism masquerading as excellence looks like overthinking every email before sending it. It looks like spending hours comparing yourself to other women who seem to have it all together. It looks like pushing yourself to exhaustion, believing rest is only earned after everything is flawlessly done.
And it’s exhausting.
Because perfectionism tells you there’s always one more thing to fix. One more tweak. One more edit. One more standard you haven’t met.
Excellence, on the other hand, is rooted in stewardship. It asks, “Am I giving my best with what God gave me in this season?” It’s grounded in grace. It allows room for growth, mistakes, and learning.
But perfectionism? It has no grace.
It keeps moving the finish line. And it whispers the lie that your worth is tied to your performance. That God is only pleased when you get everything “right.”
But perfect isn’t God’s standard. Faithfulness is.
Let that truth breathe life into you today.
Psalm 18:32 says, “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” Not perfect. Secure. God doesn’t call us to impress Him with our performance. He calls us to walk with Him in obedience.
Perfectionism is a cruel taskmaster. Excellence led by the Holy Spirit? That’s worship.
So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, tired, or stuck, maybe it’s time to pause and ask: Am I pursuing godly excellence or hiding perfectionism behind a spiritual-sounding mask?
God isn’t waiting for you to be flawless. He’s waiting for you to trust Him.
Let go of the mask. Let grace lead.
Because your “good enough” when surrendered to God is far more powerful than your “almost perfect” done in your own strength.
And remember, you don’t have to be perfect to be purposeful.
