ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

Adams’ emotional state, yet such a comment crosses the line from humility into perfectionism. You might be a perfectionist if . . . you fear failure or disapproval . Jeremiah is a likely culprit. Brought up in a communi- ty and family of priests, he no doubt knew what it was to live with constant scrutiny and high expectations. So it comes as no surprise he balked when called by God, responding, “Alas, Lord God! Behold I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6). This is part of the reason why I delayed entry into the pastor- ate. I’d done well in the academic and business world, but from what I’d heard and witnessed, church life was a different animal altogether - which it has proved to be! You might be a perfectionist if . . . you place infinitely more value on the end than the means. To me, this describes many in the world of sports.Whether coaches or players, it seems everything they do points to rings, trophies, medals, titles, and championships. Remember, “If you ain’t first, you’re last – right?” Winning it all makes them euphoric, but sometimes I wonder if they’ve had any fun along the way. While the perfectionist will stop for a quick glance at a lovely rose, they’re not apt to hang around to enjoy its fragrance. Obsessed with the bottom line, the driven perfectionist experiences little joy in what it took to produce it. If you checked off one or more points on this list, it would serve you well to carefully ponder these roots of perfectionism , the first being an erroneous interpretation of God. Rather than seeing Him as a loving Father pouring forth grace and mercy, many see God as a taskmaster, the great policeman from above, ready to slap them on the wrist at the first sign of questionable behavior. Many adopt this viewpoint because of God’s punitive action toward His people in the OldTestament.This makes sense, consider- ing the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – not to mention plagues during the time of Moses and David that killed tens

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