It’s easy to look at our lives—our careers, our homes, even our children and their behavior—and think, This isn’t good enough.
For those of us who value discipline and strive for excellence in our personal lives, that mindset can begin to spill over into everything else. We set high standards, expecting the best not just of ourselves but of those around us. And to some extent, that’s good. Excellence is a virtue, a way of honoring God through the work of our hands and the choices we make.
But here’s the danger: sometimes our striving can twist into something harmful.
We might start to see others as not good enough. Their efforts, their gifts, even their love can begin to feel like they’re falling short of the standards we’ve silently set for them. Worse still, we may start to view God Himself this way.
We judge the way He answers our prayers. The timing of His providence feels off. His blessings don’t look the way we’d hoped. Deep down, we might feel that His ways, mysterious as they are, aren’t quite good enough.
This is a trap—one rooted in impatience, pride, and our restless desire for more.
When we fall into it, our pursuit of excellence becomes distorted. Instead of drawing us closer to God, it can pull us further from Him, leaving us dissatisfied and spiritually drained.
So, what’s the answer?
Strive. By all means, strive. Excellence is worth pursuing. But don’t let it blind you to the good that’s already in front of you. Prayerfully ask yourself: When is good enough... good enough?
Sometimes, surrendering to God’s timing and trusting in His provision is the most excellent thing we can do.