I have the privilege of sharing stories, encouragement, and lessons God is teaching me along the way on Bridges (TV show) and Hope for the Journey (podcast). This month, I want to pull back the curtain and share a personal “secret from the studio”—one that has challenged me more than I expected.
How can I avoid mistakes? More specifically, it’s about my fear of media, visibility, and getting things wrong in front of other people. For years, I approached media opportunities with a desire to do everything perfectly. Whether it was recording a show, preparing an interview, writing a message, or stepping in front of a camera, I felt the pressure to have every word polished and every detail in place. I convinced myself that if I worked hard enough and prepared long enough that I could avoid mistakes.
Perfectionism is a Demanding Master. Perfectionism often appears to be excellence, but at its core it is usually fear: fear of failure, criticism, disappointing others, or not measuring up. Recently, God has been gently revealing that my desire for perfection was standing in the way of trust. I was focusing so much on getting it right that I wasn’t fully relying on His presence.
As new media opportunities emerged, I found myself facing old anxieties. What if I say the wrong thing? What if people misunderstand me? What if I’m not good enough? Those questions can become loud voices if we allow them.
Yet through prayer, reflection, and countless reminders from Scripture, God kept bringing me back to a simple truth: we are called to obedience and faithfulness – not perfectionism.
What if I don’t feel ready? Faithfulness means showing up even when I feel nervous. It means saying yes when God opens a door, even if I don’t feel completely ready. It means trusting that He can work through my imperfections, weaknesses, and humanity far better than I ever could through my own striving.
I’ve learned that people are not looking for perfection nearly as much as they are looking for authenticity. They want to know that hope is real. They want to hear from someone who has wrestled with fear and discovered that God is faithful in the middle of it.
So in this season, I am choosing trust over perfection, obedience over certainty, and faith that God can use an imperfect messenger to share a message of hope. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe there is an opportunity, a calling, a conversation, or a dream that feels intimidating. Maybe fear has been whispering that you need to have everything figured out before you take the next step.
If so, I want to encourage you with the same reminder God has been giving me: You don’t have to carry the weight of perfection. You only need to carry the responsibility of faithfulness. God is fully capable of handling the rest.
Today’s Secret from the Studio: We are called to obedience and faithfulness – not perfectionism.
—Monica Schmelter has worked in Christian media for more than 30 years and is the host of Bridges on Christian Television Network and the podcast Hope for the Journey. Through her media ministry, writing, and speaking, she encourages others to find hope, strength, and purpose through faith in God. You can watch Bridges or listen to Hope for the Journey at monicaschmelter.com
