Is perfectionism keeping you from creating a masterpiece?

I want to show you what I'm talking about in this podcast. Here's the link.  Is Perfectionism keeping you from creating a masterpiece? Is perfectionism stopping you? It's not your friend!  I want to show you something. It's only a tiny square of one of Vincent Van Gogh's earliest works. If you're expecting to see the polished, flawless perfection of Gerret Willemsz Heda ( who painstakingly smooths all the tracks of his works; then you'll be dissappointed.   Look the heavy brush strokes. For most people the sand in the paint would be reason enough to throw it away? Not to mention the uneven strokes!  The Big Picture It was the messiness of the strokes, the dull beige and the sad grey colors, even the sand embedded in the paint that makes this painting powerful.  Zoomed in As long as I was zoomed in on a single corner all I could see was messy...I don't like messy. Do you?  Perfectionism says, "Messy is bad. It has to be perfect." Zoomed Out But when I zoomed out to see the big picture, I didn't see messy anymore. I saw texture, movement and drama that made the painting come alive.  I'm left with some questions. Maybe it NOT essential that each and every stroke be absolutely perfect to make a masterpiece? And maybe sand in the paint doesn't ruin the painting after all.  Maybe it NOT absolute perfection that makes a painting valuable?  And in life, could it be, just maybe, could God take our mistakes or the sand, what about the sand that gets blown onto the painting during a storm; could God take all the bad things that happen use it to make something beautiful out of them? Absolutely, He can! That maybe is turned into a resounding ABSOLUTELY when I remind myself of Romans 8:28 NLT "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  Perfectionism says, "It has to be perfect." Do know that? Visible Brush Strokes? I am so thankful that Vincent Van Gogh understood that every stroke didn't have to be perfect according to someone else's standard to make a beautiful painting.  Everybody didn't understand that reality. Perfectionism says "What will people think?" 1 Painting- only one! Of his approximate 900 paintings, Vincent only sold one during his lifetime. Everybody will not value your talent, but what matters is whether you do or not. If you don't value your talent you won't use it; invest it; share it. Perfectionism says, "...when I get perfect...I will..." If you only focus on what you can't do, you'll never do what you can do. Proverbs 16:9 ESV The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. I know I've shared that verse twice lately, but I want you to get it.  Ask God for direction. Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.   Ask yourself.  How important is this in the big picture?  Am I giving this one thing too much attention, too much time, too much power? Is it really worth the frustration that I am allowing?   ****Don't focus on failure.*** Learn from it and keep going. Don't compare yourself with someone else. Don't focus on what you can't do. You don't have to let it bother you. You choose what your focus! You really do! So change your focus. Change your thinking. Your best means you'll keep growing... keep learning... keep developing... but your goal is perfect... your goal is your best!   Colossians 3:23 NLT Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.   I want to clarify my term "zoom out." Since only eternity will reveal the masterpiece that Almighty God is making of your life story, I want to encourage you, lift your eyes off yourself and your abilities and look to Jesus.    Recognize that when you partner with Him, He's able to take your best and turn it into a masterpiece.   Since we're on the subject... Here's some links for you to go deeper. You can listen to these titles or go to my website. How do you keep from Striking Out? How's your race going?