The start of a new year always brings with it a mixture of feelings and looking back. Sighs about what could have gone better and hidden smiles when you remember those moments where everything came together. Where the stars seemed to align for it all to fall into place…
Unfortunately, in the midst of those moments, it’s easy to get bogged down. To allow the stress of trying to align them yourself overwhelm you. Rather, then, allow yourself to be still and recognize that the truth is – you have no control over them. Not one tiny bit. All those moments that must come together just so in order to work out, we fool ourselves if we think that we had any control over them at all.
“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” – Psalm 46:10 (The Voice)
This past year was a big one in life. One with more wonderful moments and blessings than one person deserves. Becoming a wife, holding onto friendships that really could be for a lifetime, and accomplishments at work, and yet, during it, there were times where it was difficult to remember to be still. The energy of doing it perfectly almost took away from the joy of just doing it. As a chronic perfectionist, this is something that continually must be kept in check. The need to be perfect seems to come out in full force at times as I go about my daily tasks.
I distinctly remember a conversation with my parents when I was in middle school. Right when the pressure of being perfect seemed to be my focus… grades, sports, looks. I believe it went something like this: “you are going to have to get a life.” They didn’t mean for me to stop doing my best. No, this valuable lesson they were trying to instill in me was to not let the end result overshadow the joy that can come from actually doing the task at hand.
I would like to say that I as a whole I have taken this lesson to heart, but as I look back over the past year I remember a few times where the worry of being perfect took away from the joy of what I was doing, both in my personal life and work life.
One such instance was planning a wedding. I won’t get too into it, but if you have ever been even remotely involved in that process you know how easy it is to be stressed about very inconsequential things. Amazingly, God gave this perfectionist the most wonderful wedding gift the weekend of our big day, the ability to, for once, be still. The memory of what that felt like and the perfect joy I felt from the moment our rehearsal started until we pulled away could only have come from Him. His joy and love reflected through our life.
That day I didn’t care one bit how anything looked or if the songs were right. Or that the temperature dropped a good 30 degrees. No, not one single detail mattered. I was just, simply, happy. No worries of this world could touch my happiness that day. I was surrounded by the people I love, and God’s presence has never felt more real.
The same can be true of the work I do here. The small details, while at times frustrating, of what it takes to get my job done pale in comparison to the work that I pray God is doing through me in my daily tasks. I have the opportunity to share His Word and encourage others to learn more about His love.
This year, I pray that I can be still enough to allow more of those moments the opportunity to work in me.
As a perfectionist, the temptation to create a big long list of New Year’s Resolutions is there, enticing me to foolishly think that this year I could be perfect.
But at the end of one year and the start of another, I took some time to be still. To spend time with the people that mean the most to me, and to decide that in the midst of doing my best, I won’t be perfect, and that’s ok. Whatever small part I am playing in God’s perfect plan will fit in just like He intended it to – imperfections and all.
“He’s the Rock, and His work is perfect; everything He does is right. He’s the God who can be trusted, who never does wrong because He’s righteous and upright.” – Deuteronomy 32:4 (The Voice)
Laura Dickerson is a Marketing Specialist for Bibles, Reference, and Curriculum. She has been with the Bible Marketing Team since October 2009, beginning as the Marketing Intern, and then moving into the role of Marketing Coordinator in May 2010 upon her graduation from Lipscomb University.
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