The Lies That Fill Our Heads
What goes through your mind when you think what you are doing has to be perfect? When the pressure to do everything the way you envision in your head surrounds you and suffocates you to where it is hard to breathe.
I’m not even talking about really big moments. Let’s first think about the smaller things like family Christmas dinners, a day planned with your kids, or a date night with your husband. Now, what if we get into the big things such as a move, a career change, starting a budget system, the desire to adopt a child. The list of things that we want to do are limitless until the lies begin in our heads.
I can tell you what goes through my mind.
First thing is, I have a plan and I want everything to go as I planned. I see my plan laid out in my mind and it replays over and over again. I have high expectations for everything to go the way I planned and if and when they don’t, I feel like the whole thing is ruined. The huge problem here is I’m not leaving room in my plans for God’s will to happen. I’m not allowing myself to accept when things change to align with God’s works.
My second feeling is that I will disappoint those involved if things don’t go perfectly. If I don’t execute my plan perfectly then the people involved will not be pleased with the outcome. Perfectionists are typically people pleasers, to the point that we are filled with thoughts of what others think. When we think we may disappoint others then we sometimes give up before we even start in fear of the disappointment. This even happens when we are fulfilling a request that God made. We are so fearful of messing up a task for God that we are too scared to say yes.
Last thing that runs through my mind is disappointing myself. When my plan does not execute the way I planned and I feel I disappointed others, then I feel like a failure. This fear brings doubts into my head. I doubt that I can handle the task. I doubt what God is doing and His will. Then I realize that when I doubt myself, I am doubting God, and the shame sets in.
Does anyone relate to this vicious cycle of feelings?
THESE ARE ALL LIES!
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
The father of lies is the devil. When you listen to these lies you are following the devil’s desires. He wants you to give up before you even begin. He wants you to fill your time and mind so that God has no room to work. The devil desires us to doubt ourselves, doubt God, and be filled with shame. He hopes that will put a wedge between us and God.
“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47
When we belong to God, we hear what God says to us. God’s truths overpower the lies of the devil, but the devil knows exactly where to hit us with his lies. He hits us in our weakest spots, where we are the least confident. We cannot let the devil win in these areas! We need to recognize immediately that the lies in our heads are from the father of lies, not the Father of love, compassion, and truth.
When we recognize that this feeling of perfectionism is a lie, then we can let go of our pride and succumb to God’s will. We can’t fulfill God’s will and our own at the same time.
The doubts, fear of disappointment, fear of failing, and fear of not being enough are all lies.
God tells us we can accomplish anything through Him. Have faith in your Creator, the One who knows you inside and out. He knows our desires, insecurities, doubts, strengths, and failures. When we bring those to the cross and allow ourselves to be vulnerable, God does amazing things with them. He’s prepared for every situation that may arise and He has prepared you as well. God gives us peace and rest when we give Him room to work and listen to what He is saying to us.
Digging Deeper:
What lies are in your head right now?
What is the first thing you do when you recognize these as lies?
How can you strengthen your faith in God’s power through you so that you don’t doubt yourself?