The Redeemed Perfectionist | Christian Perfectionism, Identity in Christ, People Pleasing

If you’ve ever felt like you were doing everything “right” in your faith—but something still felt off… this episode is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Lenee’ Pezzano sits down with Christine Jaynes to unpack a rarely discussed reality:

What happens when your obedience to God… actually breaks you?

This episode dives deep into:

•  The hidden danger of Christian perfectionism 
•  How “good” theology can still lead to burnout 
•  The difference between obedience rooted in fear vs. love 
•  Why striving for God can disconnect you from Him 
•  How to discern God’s voice vs. internal pressure 
•  Breaking free from religious mindsets and performance-based faith 

Christine shares her raw and honest story of:

•  Marriage, motherhood, and extreme obedience 
•  Physical breakdown and emotional exhaustion 
•  Misunderstanding biblical submission 
•  And the moment everything began to shift 

If you’ve ever thought:
 “I just want to please God… but why does this feel so heavy?”

This conversation will bring clarity, freedom, and a fresh perspective on God’s heart.

Because God never asked you to carry what His grace already covered.

Connect with Christine here:

Free tool to help you practically walk with Jesus daily:  Walking in the Spirit Guide.

Christine's resource page.

Live monthly trainings and community in Christine's FB community.

Scriptures from today:

• 2 Timothy 1:7
   “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (discipline).”
• Ephesians 3:19
   “To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge…”
• Ephesians 4:16
   “From whom the whole body, fitly joined together…”
• Isaiah 54:17
   “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”
• Matthew 18:20
   “Where two or more are gathered in my name…”
• Hebrews 10:37
   “He that shall come will come…”
• Hebrews 5:14
   “By constant use, learn to discern good from evil.”
• John 10:27
   “My sheep hear my voice…”
• Romans 14:23
   “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”
• Exodus 20:3
   “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
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Christian Perfectionism: When “Should” Isn’t God’s Voice (with Mary Gallagher)

Have you ever felt like you’re never doing enough for God… no matter how hard you try?

In this powerful episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, Lenee' Pezzano sits down with Mary Gallagher to uncover the hidden burden of Christian perfectionism, and how the word “should” may be quietly fueling your exhaustion, shame, and spiritual burnout.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I should be a better Christian…”
• “I should be doing more for God…”
• “I shouldn’t feel this way…”

…this conversation will help you discern whether that voice is truly God—or religious pressure disguised as obedience

Together, we explore:

•  The difference between Holy Spirit conviction vs. shame and condemnation
•  Why God does not motivate through “shoulds”
•  How perfectionism leads to spiritual burnout and anxiety
•  The root of perfectionism: shame, fear, and identity distortion
•  How to recognize God’s voice—one that invites, not pressures
•  Practical steps to break free from performance-based faith 

This episode is for the woman who loves God deeply…
 but feels exhausted trying to live up to expectations she was never meant to carry.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

•  Why “should” language reveals hidden perfectionism 
•  How religious environments can distort God’s voice 
•  The truth about identity in Christ vs performance-based Christianity
•  How to stop striving and start walking in grace and freedom
•  A simple exercise to identify and release “should” thinking 

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 Is every “should” really God’s voice?
 03:00 Mary’s story of religious pressure
 11:00 “Gold stars for Jesus” & burnout
 17:00 The moment God spoke truth
 28:00 Hearing God vs religious pressure
 32:00 Is perfectionism rooted in shame?
 45:00 First step to break free from striving
 54:00 Closing prayer

FREE RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Are You Living from Grace or Performance? Take the Faith-Based Perfectionism Quiz. 

Download Mary Gallagher’s Free Identity Guide.  Get it here.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
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Hearing God’s Voice: Why Perfectionism Leaves You Confused | 027

Anxiety, fear, rejection and confusion may still feel louder than God's voice.  

The truth? The enemy isn’t after your peace—he’s after your ability to hear God clearly for yourself.

If this resonates, you may benefit from Heather's Prophetic Healing Workshop every 3rd Monday of the month.  Reserve your spot here.

Scripture References
John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

1 John 4:18 - there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

Ephesians 3:18-19 - ...may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you ever wondered if you’re really hearing God’s voice — or just reacting to fear, pressure, and the need to get everything right?

In this episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, we explore how perfectionism can create spiritual confusion and distort the way you relate to God. When your faith has been shaped by performance, fear of punishment, people pleasing, or the pressure to avoid disappointing God, it can become difficult to recognize his voice as gentle, present, and full of grace.

Lenee' is joined by prophetic healing coach Heather O’Brien for a conversation about Christian perfectionism, fear of man, inner striving, control, and the healing process of learning to hear God from a place of connection instead of pressure. Together, they talk about fear of punishment, spiritual confusion, renewing the mind, and what it looks like to walk with God in a more peaceful, relational way.

If you’ve felt stuck in overthinking, self-doubt, or anxiety about whether you’re following God “right,” this episode will help you breathe, slow down, and recognize what may actually be shaping your spiritual life.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
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* This is Part 2 of our series: The Hidden Identity Crisis Behind Perfectionism
→ Listen to Part 1 here.

April Farlow Resources:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Book:  Pieces of You 

Yorkshire Publishing

Lydia's Place

Additional Resource mentioned by Lenee':  No More Dry Ground Community (Free and Paid options)

Have you ever achieved something meaningful… only to feel more pressure, more confusion, or more fear of losing it?

In this episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, we continue the conversation on the hidden identity crisis behind perfectionism—and why success can actually make it worse.

If you struggle with Christian perfectionism, people pleasing, or fear of disappointing God, this conversation will help you understand why your identity may feel unstable even when your life looks successful on the outside.

We talk about:

•  Why success can reinforce performance-based identity 
•  The difference between output vs. obedience
•  How God uses seasons of slowing down to rebuild identity 
•  The “pace of grace” and the test of delay
•  Why striving disconnects you from relationship with God 
•  How to rediscover who you are beneath achievement 

This episode is for the woman who:

•  Feels pressure to maintain success 
•  Struggles with comparison and inner criticism 
•  Wonders if she’s falling behind spiritually or professionally 
•  Feels disconnected from God despite doing “all the right things” 

You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding that your identity in Christ is not something you earn—it’s something you receive.

And maybe, for the first time, you’ll feel permission to slow down… and actually be with God.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
        📞Ask Lenee' Anything!: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeneePezzano
        

April Farlow Resources:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Book:  Pieces of You 

Yorkshire Publishing

Lydia's Place

My guest, leadership trainer, speaker, and author April Farlow, joins me for a powerful conversation about how the beliefs we carry about ourselves shape the way we show up in our faith, our relationships, and our calling.

Together we unpack why so many successful women quietly wrestle with questions like:

• Who did God really create me to be?
• Why do I feel like I'm constantly measuring myself against everyone else?
• Why is my inner voice so much harsher than the way I speak to others?

Through stories, personal experiences, and practical insights, we explore how comparison, expectations, and internal narratives can distort our understanding of who we are in Christ.

April also shares a revealing exercise she once did with a group of accomplished women that exposed the powerful gap between how we see ourselves and how we see others—and what that reveals about the lies many of us have unknowingly believed for years.

If you've ever felt caught between who you think you should be and who God actually created you to be, this conversation will help you begin untangling those voices and rediscovering the freedom that comes from living out of your true identity.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why perfectionism often masks a deeper identity struggle
 • The internal narratives that shape how we see ourselves
 • How comparison fuels insecurity and self-criticism
 • The difference between performing for worth and living from identity
 • Practical ways to begin rediscovering who God created you to be

This is Part 1 of my conversation with April. In the next episode, we’ll go deeper into the beliefs, fears, and identity fractures that often drive perfectionism—and how God begins to heal them.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
        📞Ask Lenee' Anything!: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeneePezzano
        

My website:  https://leneepezzano.com

Book: You Will Make Mistakes

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 139:14, Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:10, Romans 5:8, Psalm 118:5-9, Ephesians 2:1, Matthew 10:31

Have you ever noticed how quickly “I failed” turns into “I am a failure”?

In this powerful episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, Leneé Pezzano unpacks the subtle but dangerous shift perfectionists make—from behavior to identity—and why that shift sends your nervous system into fight-or-flight.

If you’re a high-achieving Christian woman who swings between pride when you succeed and shame when you don’t… this episode is for you.

You’ll learn:

• Why perfectionism is really about identity, not behavior
• How pride and shame are two sides of the same performance-based mindset
• What Scripture says about boasting, humility, and grace
• How to calm your body using a simple vagus nerve breathing practice
• Why grace isn’t just forgiveness—it’s the power to stop striving

Leneé walks you through biblical truth from Galatians, Romans, Psalms, and more to show how your worth was settled by Christ—not your performance. If you’re exhausted from living on the pendulum of achievement and self-criticism, this conversation will help you step off entirely.

Because your value is not on trial.
 God is not grading you—He is growing you.

✨ Subscribe and come back anytime you need to breathe, reset, and let grace speak louder than your inner critic.

#ChristianPerfectionism #FaithAndMentalHealth #GraceOverPerformance #IdentityInChrist #ChristianWomen

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
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Stepping into Abundance Webinar here.

Run Down to Renewed Website

From Run Down to Renewed Podcast

John 10:10 (KJV):  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus promised “life…more abundantly” (John 10:10)—so why are so many believers exhausted? In this bonus episode, we confront the hidden pressure many Christian women carry: turning abundance into a spiritual scoreboard, defining “blessing” by output, and mistaking hustle for holiness.

You’ll hear a powerful conversation with Denise Stiffler and Mackenzi Blasko, hosts of From Rundown to Renewed, as we unpack how perfectionism, fear, false humility, and performance-based Christianity distort God’s heart. We talk about learning to recognize God’s voice, breaking agreement with lies rooted in shame, and why obedience flows best from relationship—not fear of punishment. You’ll also learn practical ways to shift from white-knuckling your faith to abiding, resting, and trusting God with the timeline.

If you’ve ever achieved what you prayed for and still felt empty…if you’ve wondered whether abundant living is for “other people”…or if you’re tired of trying to prove yourself to God—this episode is your invitation back to presence.

Denise and Mackenzie are also hosting a webinar this week called Stepping into Abundant Living. Grab the link in the show notes and join us as you move from striving to steadiness, from performance to presence, and from hustle to rest. Abundance was never meant to exhaust you.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
        📞Ask Lenee' Anything!: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeneePezzano
        

Take the free Grace Scale Quiz to see how much perfectionism might be impacting your life:  leneepezzano.com/grace-scale

When nothing seems to be moving, it’s easy for a Christian perfectionist to assume something is wrong.
In Part 2 of this series, we explore why slow seasons feel threatening—and how they can actually reveal the fatherly heart of God.

Through two simple parables—“it’s like paste” and “let me carry the groceries”—this episode reframes God’s delays as protection, not punishment. You’ll discover why waiting is not failure, why delay is not disqualification, and how God leads the weary with safety before pressure.

If you’ve been questioning whether you’re behind or disappointing God, this episode offers a grace-filled reset.

✨ You’re not behind. You’re being held.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
        📞Ask Lenee' Anything!: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeneePezzano
        

Scriptures referenced:  

• Judges 14:14 - Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.
• Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
• Matthew 11:28-30

Take the free Grace Scale Quiz to see how much perfectionism might be impacting your life:  leneepezzano.com/grace-scale

 Have you ever prayed for clarity—only to hear what feels like a parable?

In this episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, host Leneé Pezzano shares a vulnerable moment when God didn’t answer her anxiety with instructions, timelines, or correction—but with reassurance.

For Christian perfectionists, seasons of waiting and silence rarely feel neutral. They feel threatening. They trigger comparison, self-doubt, and the fear that we’re “behind” or have somehow missed God.

In this episode, Leneé explores the biblical difference between riddles and parables—and why God often speaks in ways that invite relationship rather than performance. She also unpacks how perfectionism partners with pressure, why exhaustion can feel like faithfulness, and how to recognize the difference between the voice of a taskmaster and the voice of a loving Father.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on reframing God’s delays and learning to trust Him without striving.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The biblical difference between a riddle and a parable—and why it matters
• Why God often reassures before He explains
• How perfectionism mistakes pressure for faithfulness
• How to discern the source of a voice by how it motivates
• Why God’s silence and slowness are not signs of disappointment
• Why delay is not evaluation—and waiting is not disqualification

🕊 Key takeaway:

God does not withhold blessings to test your worthiness.
 He prepares you because He intends to bless you.

Sometimes His greatest act of care is staying close—before telling you what’s next.

🔜 Coming next week:

In Part 2, Lenee unpacks the two parables God gave her—“paste” and “let me carry the groceries”—and what they reveal about moving forward with God without striving.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
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Read Amy's full story in her new book, Ring of Fire.  Get your copy here!

Learn more about Amy at www.amydial.com.  

Part one ended with a gut-punch: Amy—crushed under secret sin, shame, and the religious lie “You’re too far gone”—sat in a car headed to an abortion clinic, convinced God was finished with her.

But part two is where everything turns.

In this episode of The Redeemed Perfectionist, you’ll hear what happens when the enemy tries to finish the story with fear, condemnation, and even suicide—and what happens when Jesus interrupts with a single sentence that changes everything: “Remember who you are.”

Amy shares what it felt like inside that clinic, the dehumanizing pressure, the spiritual warfare she didn’t yet have language for, and the moment God’s presence broke through when she couldn’t even pray. You’ll also hear how the Lord began rebuilding her life—step by step—from religion to relationship, from “worthless” to priceless, and from hiding in shame to living with reverence, identity, and real intimacy with God.

If you’ve ever believed:

• “I should know better by now.”
• “One more mistake and God will punish me.”
• “I’ve gone too far.”
• “I don’t deserve to be here.”

…this episode is for you.

Take a breath. Unclench your jaw. Don’t run. Redemption isn’t coming someday—it's coming now.

Listen in for: grace vs. condemnation, Christian perfectionism, religious fear, shame, abortion pressure, spiritual warfare, suicide lies, identity in Christ, and what it looks like to obey God from love—not fear.

Next step: Hit Follow/Subscribe, share this with the woman on your heart, and leave a quick review so more women can find freedom. And if this stirred something deep in you, check the show notes to leave Leneé a message or join the Redeemed Perfectionist Facebook community—because we’re not doing this alone anymore.

🌐 Connect with Lenee' Pezzano and The Redeemed Perfectionist
 
        🔗 www.leneepezzano.com – Explore Resources & More
        
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