A Recovering Perfectionist's Imperfect Prayer - Grit & Grace
A recovering perfectionist’s imperfect prayer…
You ask me to come.
Weary and burdened, to come.
You will give me rest,
and so I offer my prayer: this recovering perfectionist’s imperfect prayer.
Filtered prayers flow,
making sure the right words are
rolling off my tongue.
Hesitant, reluctant, unsure, and comparing.
“Right words must be used”
is the perfectionist’s cry.
Best are the words others say.
What makes a word “best” anyway?
The words others say
are eloquent and worthy
of my Father’s ears.
The whispers from the Enemy grow louder.
Why do I forget?
Eloquence and platitudes
are not what you want.
Remember Truth, dear one.
Stuttering, stumbling.
My brokenness is a bridge,
not a barrier.
The quest for what’s unattainable
(and not even required of me)
fools me into thinking otherwise.
Your brokenness came
so that perfection didn’t
need to be from me.
It never could, as I was bought with a price I could never pay.
My mumbling cries are
a sweet melody to you.
Songs of the broken.
Songs of the imperfect you have made whole.
Beautifully broken.
That’s what we are; what I am.
Imperfect prayers.
Prayers to ears that are always listening.
My prayers are safe.
With you, there’s no need to hide.
Imperfect embraced.
You’ve asked me to come, and so I’m here.
Uttering prayers.
No need to get them just right.
Time for me to rest.
Can I, though?
Even this prayer,
it is plagued with the poison:
perfectionism.
It grips my heart so very tightly.
I’ll cling to your Truth.
My heart is what you’re after.
Won’t be turned away.
So here it is, this recovering perfectionist’s imperfect prayer.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
You can read more about my journey as a recovering perfectionist here, here, and here.
Here’s a great article sharing some confessions of a recovering perfectionist.
Any other recovering perfectionists out there?
Becky is a Miami native, and has lived here all of her life. Married to her husband for over 20 years, they lead a very active lifestyle along with their three teenagers and Riley, their rescue dog. Becky loves to teach, and has had the awesome privilege of home educating her children for over twelve years. When not teaching academics, Becky loves to equip, encourage, and empower women through the teaching of her group fitness classes. Becky and her husband lead various ministries, and their family loves to serve the community through the countless opportunities provided over the past twenty years+ in their local church. She enjoys filling her "free" time with reading, writing, watching movies, and just spending time with the family. Becky has a passion for living her life with grit and grace, and encouraging others to do the same.
