By Kimberly Matte

Reprinted From TEACH Magazine Summer 2003

I don’t really remember the pain of trying to get in shape again and again, but you hear about it all the time. Athletes push themselves hard to become the most prepared for their event. A triathlon athlete, for example, might jog for miles one day, ride a bike for miles another day, and then fit in swimming—all as part of his workout. They do these daily exercises not by themselves, but often with a coach who is pushing, challenging, and encouraging them to ultimately win the race. The coach knows the preparation for the race will require sacrifice, demand endurance, and at times be painful, but he knows the end result.
As Christians, our coach is our Heavenly Father. He is always calling us to a closer walk with Him. The Apostle Paul said a similar statement when he said, “being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ,” Philippians 1:6.
Have you ever said you don’t experience God much in your life? Let me suggest that you give over to God one area of your life that you want to see change. Notice I didn’t say write a list of things you want to change, but rather, start with one thing at a time and let God begin to mold and transform your life.

The Lord is working on a big issue with me: perfectionism! I didn’t realize how big an issue it was until I had physical pain. I used to think, “How could this happen to me?” I love the Lord. I’m trying to be a godly wife, mother, and homemaker, yet I am embarrassed to say I’m an extreme perfectionist when it comes to cleaning my home.

I remember getting ready for Bible study every week. It took one day to organize every cupboard, closet, cabinet, the refrigerator, and wash all the sheets, towels, and clothes. The next day I scrubbed everything from the stove, oven, microwave, kitchen, bathrooms, behind the washer and dryer, and also under the refrigerator. Next, I would vacuum, wash floors, and walls. This was all done with the help of my perfectionist son, the oldest of five at the time.

We actually had fun getting ready, and some of you have time to do this, but I didn’t think that was the problem. And to top it off, once everything was shining, I would ask my family to eat out because I didn’t want anything to get dirty or have a smell in the house. My husband would say each week the house was fine before I did all that work, but I didn’t listen.

I believe one of the reasons I had such a perfectionist attitude when it came to my home is because this was one area where I thought I had total control. About four years ago I prayed that I would begin to relax (uh-oh) and not put so much emphasis into cleaning my home. I remember my family telling me to sit down for a while; it was hard.

After two and half years of trying to relax, I injured the rotator cuff in my right shoulder. It is still not healed. In the last year my left shoulder has also begun hurting, probably because I’m compensating so much for my right shoulder.   Because of my injuries I am unable to clean like I use to. God is teaching me to relax and be more patient with my family, even if everything is not completely in order. Although I believe our heavenly Father is a God of order, my desire for an orderly, clean, and spotless house should never over shadow my love for our family. I can now thank the Lord for my pain because it is part of His work to perfect me. I wish I could say I have arrived, but with the Lord’s help I’m closer. I am looking forward to complete victory through Christ.

Lastly, going through the Refiner’s Fire is a faith issue. Say, “Yes, Lord, I trust you for my life. Your way is better than mine!” And remember He is teaching us to stay in the trial a little longer, sometimes until His work is done. We are always so anxious to get out. Then we have to learn the same lesson over and over again.

Also, a good thing to keep in mind is that allowing others to see God’s transforming power in us gives Him glory! “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:16.