Pastors are often under a lot of pressure to be perfect. 

You’re expected to have the perfect relationship with God, the perfect family, and the perfect attitude.  

But that battle won’t just hurt your ministry; it will have long-lasting effects in all areas of your life, including these three:  

1. It defeats your initiative.

Have you ever had a project you never actually started? 

You thought, “One of these days I’ll get around to it,” but you just couldn’t take that first step. 

One possible reason is perfectionism. You were waiting for the perfect circumstance or timing, or you were waiting until the kids got out of school or until a certain amount of money came in. 

When you set your standards so high, perfectionism causes paralysis, and you can’t get anything done.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (TLB).

2. It damages your relationships.

Nobody likes being nagged or corrected all the time. It’s frustrating and irritating! But the Bible says, “Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends” (Proverbs 17:9 TLB). 

The desire to always correct others can damage relationships because it’s rooted in insecurity. Perfectionists who are harsh and demanding on other people are really harsh and demanding on themselves.

3. It destroys your happiness.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 says, “Don’t be too virtuous, and don’t be too wise. Why make yourself miserable?” (GW). 

This Scripture isn’t talking about genuine righteousness or real wisdom. It’s talking about perfectionism. 

You can transform any virtue into a vice by taking it to the extreme.

Your worst nag lives under your skin, because you are your own worst critic. (That’s true for all of us!) 

If you’re always nagging others or even yourself, what does that say about you? 

It says you think you’re not good enough. And perhaps reminding yourself what’s wrong with you is going to motivate you into doing the right thing. It’s not! That’s called perfectionism, and it causes you to constantly put yourself down.

Pastor, you’ll only find one antidote to perfectionism. 

It’s not in a self-help book or a doctor’s office. You can only learn to relax when you fully experience the liberating grace of God.

What negative thoughts about yourself do you need to replace with God’s promises and truth about who you really are?