God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.
– St. Teresa of Calcutta

Are you your own worst critic? Always noticing how you fall short, or what you could have done better? Do you feel like you’re not enough?

Recently on The Joe Sikorra Show, Joe discussed how our focus on perfection can keep us from living the life that God is truly calling us to. He said:

“Do you look at your life and judge it kind of critically? No matter what it is you do you say, ‘I could have done it better, I could have been better.’

There is this side of it where it is nice to aspire to be the best that you can be.  God has given you talents, gifts, and abilities. In the parable of the talents, God says that He does have the expectation that we will work really hard with what He’s given us. But it’s not about being perfect. God calls you out into this great, adventurous life – not to live it perfectly, but to live it faithfully. And that’s the real difference.

You’re not going to be the best at everything. And sometimes when you recognize that you’re not the best, and you feel anxiety, then you’re going to start covering up your flaws. You cover it up because you think if you let someone see who you really are, and they realize you’re not perfect, then you’re going to feel really bad about yourself.

… Do you struggle with the belief that you’re not enough? If you’re always asking that question of whether you’re enough, then you’re going to feel anxious.

But here’s what God says: He is the God who lavishly provides you with His own presence, working things in your life that you could never do for yourself. Does He do this for you because of your own moral striving, or because you trust Him to accomplish this in you?

What God is saying is to trust, believe. That is the best thing you can do.”

Listen to the full segment below:

The Joe Sikorra Show airs weekdays at 10:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Pacific on Relevant Radio®.