When Perfection Tries to Steal Your Peace

Hooking the Heart

You know what’s more exhausting than running a marathon?

Uploading a book cover… with a slow WiFi connection, a stubborn design file, and an error message that feels personally offended by your existence.

Today, I waged a holy war with my manuscript and cover file: upload, error, fix, upload, error, fix—on repeat. By the time I hit “approve” on my proof copy, I was ready to launch myself into a nap—and maybe early retirement.

But here’s the revelation that saved my sanity:

Perfection is a thief. Peace is the real treasure.

Somewhere between my fifteenth file upload and my third cup of tea, God whispered a truth into my heart:

You can spend your life polishing, or you can spend it living.

The Trap of Perfectionism (and How It Eats Your Soul)

We’ve all been there—editing that email draft for the tenth time, rehearsing the same conversation in our heads, or, yes, wrestling a book cover into submission. It’s like we believe if we just work hard enough, we can control the outcome.

But the truth? We can’t. And we’re not supposed to.

As Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Not in its perfection, not in its flawlessness—in its time. There’s a sacred beauty to imperfection, to surrender, to letting go.

Or as Brené Brown says,

“Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving for excellence. Perfectionism is the belief that if we do things perfectly, we can avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame.”

Mic drop.

What God Reminded Today

As I sat there watching the progress bar spin (again), Romans 8:28 came alive in me:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Not just the perfect uploads, the flawless books, the curated Instagram posts—all things.

God’s not asking me to be flawless.

He’s asking me to be faithful.

When Frustration Meets Freedom

I wanted to scream.

Instead, I laughed.

And that’s when I knew something had shifted.

Anne Lamott captures this perfectly:

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.”

I realized that releasing my book into the world—typos, quirks, beauty and all—isn’t a failure.

It’s an act of faith.

It’s saying, I trust that God can use this, just as it is, for good.

Letting go felt like unclenching a tight fist and opening my palm to the breeze. Suddenly, I wasn’t in control—and it was okay.

Soul Insights

1. Done is better than perfect.

You can spend your life polishing a masterpiece that no one ever sees—or you can share your story, rough edges and all. Perfection may impress, but authenticity connects. When we release our work into the world, we give others permission to be bold and imperfect too.

Proverbs 16:3 reminds us: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

2. Rest is holy.

Even Jesus stepped away to pray, rest, and recharge. Rest isn’t a reward you earn after exhausting yourself; it’s part of the sacred rhythm God built into creation. When we honor rest, we honor the truth that we are finite—and that’s a gift, not a flaw.

3. Your worth is not tied to your work.

You are beloved, valuable, and enough—before you hit “publish,” before you hit “send,” before anyone claps or notices. God’s love doesn’t increase when you achieve or decrease when you stumble. Remember, you are a human being, not a human doing.

4. Creativity requires surrender.

The best art, writing, and work come when we hold things loosely and allow for surprise, imperfection, and grace. Creativity is a dance between our effort and God’s mystery, and sometimes the most beautiful parts come from the moments we didn’t plan. Surrender isn’t giving up; it’s opening up.

5. Trust that God can fill in the gaps.

We are not called to be the Savior of our own lives. There will always be unfinished edges and moments we wish we could fix—but God is the great Redeemer of messy drafts. As Max Lucado beautifully says,

“You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good.”

Final Thoughts: Let Go, Breathe Deep, Trust Big

As I look ahead to my next book, I’m not bringing perfectionism with me—I’m packing peace.

Today, I learned that letting go isn’t a defeat; it’s an act of courage. It’s standing before your work and saying:

“I’ve done my part, God. Now it’s Yours.”

So if you’re staring down a project, a dream, or a decision tonight and feeling the pressure to “get it perfect,” hear me whisper this across the screen:

You can rest now. You can trust now. You are allowed to be human.

What’s one thing you’ve been gripping too tightly today?

Where can you choose peace over perfection right now?

Because in the hands of God, done is holy.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you:

1.) What’s one area of your life where you’ve been chasing perfection?

2.) Where can you choose peace over perfection this week?

3.) Have you learned a hard-earned lesson about letting go that you’d like to share?

Drop a comment below—I read every single one, and I’m cheering you on as you navigate this beautiful, messy, grace-filled life.

And if you know someone who’s been stuck in the perfection trap, send this post their way. Let’s remind each other that we’re allowed to rest, to release, and to trust that God is at work—even in the imperfect.

Soul Path Insights