PRODIGAL PERFECTIONISTS
Sunday 28-September-2025
Luke 15:20 “He ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:11-24
Outwardly, successful Olympic track athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone looked rock solid. Inwardly, it was a different story. “l convinced myself that I was put on this earth to win,” she confessed, “And in order to receive love and respect from others, I had to finish first.”
Though she was a believer, her self-worth was secretly entirely attached to her athletic success, leaving her trapped by shame and fear of failure. Gradually, her husband’s honesty about his own weaknesses gave her courage not to hide her mistakes. In prayer, Sydney fully surrendered herself to God-and was transformed.
I’m not an athlete, but I relate to Sydney’s struggle of attaching my self-worth to my achievements or others’ approval. Jesus’ parable of the Lost Son is not just for the profligate sinners who relate to the son’s rejection of the Father in favour of overindulgence and “wild living” (Luke 15:13). It’s also for those who struggle secretly with shame and failure, which is the position the son found himself in when he was destitute. At our lowest, we may also feel, “I am no longer worthy to be called [God’s child]” (vw. 19, 21).
If you are struggling with feeling ashamed by your failings or failures, I invite you to spend time with that picture of God as the father, “filled with compassion” (v. 20), embracing us and welcoming us home. May Gods exuberant love dissolve our shame.
Loving Heavenly Father, I bring to you my shame and secret fear. Help me look only to You and receive Your exuberant love for me.
