By Alison Palmer

When I was a young woman, there was a girl in my ward who “made” me want to throw up my hands and give up on most things. She was tall, blond, athletic, and talented. She was everything I wasn’t. I know, because I took careful comparison notes. Then came the year she taught herself to play piano. Within that year, she could play circles around me, and I’d been playing since age five.

It was frustrating and discouraging to see her seem to so easily succeed while I floundered and struggled. It took me a few years to realize the different parts we play in Heavenly Father’s plan. It took me a long time to understand I didn’t have to be her; I only needed to be me.

It’s still a struggle for me. One of Satan’s cruelest tricks is to get us to look at others around us for direction and validation instead of looking within ourselves.
We are by nature a people who are actively striving toward a goal of perfection.

How easy is it for him to tell us that perfection should be today and should show in every aspect of our lives? Satan uses our righteous desires to be the best that we can to create feelings of jealousy and inadequacy within us.

When I look back at the year my “competition” learned to play the piano, I can now see some subtle differences that I refused to notice in the moment. She spent hours each day perfecting her ability, and expected nothing less than perfection. I could not devote that kind of time and energy during that period of my life. She loved to perform, I shrank from it.

When I looked at the great things she was visibly doing my quiet acts of service seemed highly inadequate. Yet, when I looked at it from the Lord’s perspective, I had exactly the talent he needed me to have. I could sight read. I could walk into any church meeting and cheerfully place myself behind the piano when asked at the last minute. I made mistakes, but I was good enough to do what the Lord needed me to do. I didn’t need to be perfect, or even as good as she was. I only needed to be good enough.

There is a measure to the talents and blessings each of us are given, there is a measure to our strengths and weaknesses. If we let him, Satan will gleefully show us our imperfections and tell us we have no worth. He offers no comfort or encouragement.

If we let Him, our Savior has promised us that He will make weak things strong (Ether 12:27). No, not stronger than our neighbor, but strong enough to do exactly what He needs us to. That’s part of the beauty of the Atonement.

I am not perfect; I can’t be perfect in everything, every day. What I can do is put myself in the Master’s hand and ask Him to help me be good enough. Sometimes it’s a matter of priorities. I can’t always know what the Lord wants to take priority in my life. If I ask, He will tell me. Once I ask, I have to learn which other parts of my life are already good enough for now or need to be let go entirely.

Our humble efforts and sincere desires are all that is required. Not everyone can be tall, blond and talented, but each of us has exactly what we need to get through this life successfully. Take a part of your life that leaves you feeling insecure and prayerfully address where those feelings come from.

What are you currently doing with this area of your life? Don’t think in terms of “should.” That is another guilt message. Think in terms of service and joy. What can you accomplish just as you are right now? Is that acceptable to the Lord? Look inward and upward for direction in your strivings, not outward at an individual or the world’s standards. Stick close to the Spirit and find the path your Savior wants you to follow. When you keep those things in perspective you’ll be well on your way to perfecting the art of good enough.