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Perfected: Trading Shame and Striving for Wholeness in Christ
"Am I good enough?" The question plagued Bethany's heart and mind as she drifted off to sleep each night. She worried whether her meager efforts had met the expectations of those around her, the ones in her own head, and (more importantly) the ones she felt from God.
Culture answered her question with glowing affirmations. You’ve got this girl! Just believe in yourself! You are more than enough, just the way you are! Even in the church, her struggles with insufficiency and insecurity were met with true yet incomplete promises. He created you just as you are! You’re a princess in his eyes! You are enough for him! All these phrases were merely bandages covering the festering wound of how inadequate she felt.
How could she truly know if she was good enough?
Through biblical teaching alongside her own personal struggles with perfectionism and condemnation, Bethany shares how she learned to lay down her efforts to be good enough by trusting that Christ is enough for her.
Perfected replaces the burdensome expectations and empty affirmations of this world with the truth that Christ has perfected you for all time. You can find freedom from your self-sufficient striving and rest in the finished work of Christ on your behalf.
Culture answered her question with glowing affirmations. You’ve got this girl! Just believe in yourself! You are more than enough, just the way you are! Even in the church, her struggles with insufficiency and insecurity were met with true yet incomplete promises. He created you just as you are! You’re a princess in his eyes! You are enough for him! All these phrases were merely bandages covering the festering wound of how inadequate she felt.
How could she truly know if she was good enough?
Through biblical teaching alongside her own personal struggles with perfectionism and condemnation, Bethany shares how she learned to lay down her efforts to be good enough by trusting that Christ is enough for her.
Perfected replaces the burdensome expectations and empty affirmations of this world with the truth that Christ has perfected you for all time. You can find freedom from your self-sufficient striving and rest in the finished work of Christ on your behalf.
- GenresChristian
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2025
Balanced, beautiful, and full of Biblical truth, Perfected offers a breath of fresh air to any reader who has wrestled with feeling the need to muscle through life—and faith—by trying harder or working more. Bethany Broderick has masterfully intertwined her story with the Story, pointing readers to the Gospel truths that set us free from perfectionism, performance, and self-condemnation. Highly recommended!
July 17, 2025
We live in a culture that rewards performance, praises productivity, and often ties our worth to our success. For many of us—especially those who’ve grown up in the church—this mindset can quietly seep into our faith. We strive to be good enough, holy enough, useful enough. We aim for perfection, not always realizing how weary and heavy-laden we’ve become.
In Perfected, Bethany invites us to lay down the exhausting burden of self-sufficiency and rest in the finished work of Christ. With pastoral warmth and biblical depth, she leads readers through the tangled lies of perfectionism and into the freedom of gospel-shaped wholeness.
If you’ve been weighed down by your imperfections—striving to be perfect and feeling flooded with guilt when you fall short—you’ll find encouragement in these pages. We weren’t created to make ourselves perfect. It’s a fruitless pursuit. But when we embrace the grace and goodness of the gospel, remembering that salvation can never be earned, we discover the true rest and wholeness found in Christ.
Highly recommend!
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 223
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
{full review on the blog! https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/fo...}
In Perfected, Bethany invites us to lay down the exhausting burden of self-sufficiency and rest in the finished work of Christ. With pastoral warmth and biblical depth, she leads readers through the tangled lies of perfectionism and into the freedom of gospel-shaped wholeness.
If you’ve been weighed down by your imperfections—striving to be perfect and feeling flooded with guilt when you fall short—you’ll find encouragement in these pages. We weren’t created to make ourselves perfect. It’s a fruitless pursuit. But when we embrace the grace and goodness of the gospel, remembering that salvation can never be earned, we discover the true rest and wholeness found in Christ.
Highly recommend!
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 223
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
{full review on the blog! https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/fo...}
June 8, 2025
This book was a balm for the soul in ways I didn’t even know I needed! Throughout reading this book, I felt as though I was sitting with a dear friend drinking coffee as I was encouraged, admonished, and reminded of God’s love and plan for me. Bethany invites the reader into her life as a means by which to point them to the truth of the gospel and our desperate need for it, even if we’ve been walking with the Lord for years. Will be gifting this book to so many of my friends, and I can’t wait to discuss it with them more!
October 4, 2025
Bethany spoke so poignantly to my soul through the biblical truths she’s also been wrestling with in her own life and fight against striving and perfectionism. She takes her readers on a journey alongside her, not acting as if she has all the answers or has it all together, but graciously inviting us to the freedom and joy found in Christ alone! I believe this is such a helpful and necessary read for so many of us in the Church today who are still trying to “pick ourselves up by our bootstraps,” even if we know theologically that’s not what the Lord intends for us. It is a calling—and even proving—through scripture that there is a better way.
April 22, 2026
We all have met “that girl”, the one who has it all together. Has walked with the Lord since childhood. Always looks perfect, refinishes antique furniture, and has delicious smelling food baking when you arrive at her house. As we look at these women, many of us fall into two categories; we are cynical or envious. Desiring to meet up to their same standards. Or a belief that they are putting up a facade. Perhaps you ARE that woman, with the life that everyone desires, but your heart is broken. To onlookers you are the ideal Christian, yet your relationship with Christ run dry. Reader, there is hope.
Bethany Broderick, in her book, Perfected, explores her experience with outward perfection and the journey she made in embracing that perfection only Christ can offer. Beginning with her breaking point, we get a glimpse into her mind and struggle with earning the favor of God through checking all the right boxes. Her constant inadequacy and shame surrounding the failures. She dissects this wrong way of thinking with scripture, primarily Exodus and Hebrews, to see who God is. Walking through the book, the reader is admonished to rely on Christ for strength, salvation and sanctification in a simple, yet strategic method. The gospel message is clear in the pages of this work and handled carefully.
The most profound takeaway I had in this book was the way the author walked through the “prodigal son” parable in a fresh, unexplored way. She illustrated with exegetical precision.
“While this parable is often titled “The Prodigal Son” in our English translation, Jesus focused his story not on the two wayward sons but on the forgiving father.” - Bethany Broderick
Two Wayward Sons.
This fresh perspective gave insight on the brother who remained. Who had it together, and paralleled her story. Doing all the right things and experiencing his father’s presence nevertheless, bitterness when his brother was brought back into the fold.
Pros;
The topic is quite relevant, especially in Western Christianity, and our comparison mentality. I have encountered many women who - typically - grew up or have been a part of the big “C” Church for a long time. They are who I see most often falling into this trap, so I appreciated the vulnerability of the author in her faith journey.
Bethany encourages the reader to be in a local faith family. We cannot grow spiritually in fullness without one, and I am thankful for the importance she placed on being a part of a church community.
She addresses church hurt in a productive way, not encouraging the reader to simply leave when things get hard. Neither condoning abusive or painful behavior.
Both biological and adoptive stories of motherhood were affirmed in this story. I was thankful for it.
This book is laid out in three sections; lie, truth and promises, each comprised of smaller chapters. It is laid out in a style conducive for discipleship groups, with reflection questions and further reading at the conclusion of each chapter.
Cons:
Written to an audience of women. (Though this is not necessarily a con, I did not know how to properly categorize it). This striving exists among men as they fall into the same traps. I would like to see this in their hands as well.
Quotes;
Page 56 “Besides after a day like that, I wasn’t sure God wanted to spend time with me”
Found on page 105. “The lie I told my boss which he never found out. The bitterly cruel words I spoke to my husband. The (many) times I lose my temper while correcting my children. Even after I’ve confessed and repented, I often refuse to release these reminders of inadequacy.”
Bethany Broderick is no novice in the writing community; she is known for articles and featured on podcasts alike. Somewhat of a celebrity in the Christian Substack community. You can read more of her work by clicking the link or at her website https://www.bethanybroderick.com/.
Perfected is a wonderful addition to the library of any man, woman or church library, and is available for purchase at Amazon and Lifeway.
I am not compensated for this review and have paid for my copy of Perfected - Trading Shame and Striving for Wholeness in Christ. For more book reviews see
substack.com/@mommysavedbygrace
Bethany Broderick, in her book, Perfected, explores her experience with outward perfection and the journey she made in embracing that perfection only Christ can offer. Beginning with her breaking point, we get a glimpse into her mind and struggle with earning the favor of God through checking all the right boxes. Her constant inadequacy and shame surrounding the failures. She dissects this wrong way of thinking with scripture, primarily Exodus and Hebrews, to see who God is. Walking through the book, the reader is admonished to rely on Christ for strength, salvation and sanctification in a simple, yet strategic method. The gospel message is clear in the pages of this work and handled carefully.
The most profound takeaway I had in this book was the way the author walked through the “prodigal son” parable in a fresh, unexplored way. She illustrated with exegetical precision.
“While this parable is often titled “The Prodigal Son” in our English translation, Jesus focused his story not on the two wayward sons but on the forgiving father.” - Bethany Broderick
Two Wayward Sons.
This fresh perspective gave insight on the brother who remained. Who had it together, and paralleled her story. Doing all the right things and experiencing his father’s presence nevertheless, bitterness when his brother was brought back into the fold.
Pros;
The topic is quite relevant, especially in Western Christianity, and our comparison mentality. I have encountered many women who - typically - grew up or have been a part of the big “C” Church for a long time. They are who I see most often falling into this trap, so I appreciated the vulnerability of the author in her faith journey.
Bethany encourages the reader to be in a local faith family. We cannot grow spiritually in fullness without one, and I am thankful for the importance she placed on being a part of a church community.
She addresses church hurt in a productive way, not encouraging the reader to simply leave when things get hard. Neither condoning abusive or painful behavior.
Both biological and adoptive stories of motherhood were affirmed in this story. I was thankful for it.
This book is laid out in three sections; lie, truth and promises, each comprised of smaller chapters. It is laid out in a style conducive for discipleship groups, with reflection questions and further reading at the conclusion of each chapter.
Cons:
Written to an audience of women. (Though this is not necessarily a con, I did not know how to properly categorize it). This striving exists among men as they fall into the same traps. I would like to see this in their hands as well.
Quotes;
Page 56 “Besides after a day like that, I wasn’t sure God wanted to spend time with me”
Found on page 105. “The lie I told my boss which he never found out. The bitterly cruel words I spoke to my husband. The (many) times I lose my temper while correcting my children. Even after I’ve confessed and repented, I often refuse to release these reminders of inadequacy.”
Bethany Broderick is no novice in the writing community; she is known for articles and featured on podcasts alike. Somewhat of a celebrity in the Christian Substack community. You can read more of her work by clicking the link or at her website https://www.bethanybroderick.com/.
Perfected is a wonderful addition to the library of any man, woman or church library, and is available for purchase at Amazon and Lifeway.
I am not compensated for this review and have paid for my copy of Perfected - Trading Shame and Striving for Wholeness in Christ. For more book reviews see
substack.com/@mommysavedbygrace
April 30, 2025
Bethany Broderick addresses an issue I have struggled with for many years. As a fellow "church kid" and perfectionist, I also grew up with a subtle belief that I had to perform at a certain level to earn God's favor. Even worse, I found myself living as if I could earn answers to prayer by checking enough boxes (Bible reading, prayer, memorization, going to church, etc.). Bethany has managed to address these issues beautifully in her book Perfected. She points us solidly back to Jesus as our source of goodness, as the One who makes us "enough" in God's eyes, as our Savior who makes all of the striving and shame unnecessary because we are united with him in his righteousness.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who ever wonders if they are "good enough". In fact, even if you think maybe you ARE good enough, or if you have never asked the question...still read this book! It will make you think; it will point you toward Jesus; it is filled with a rich doctrine of our salvation in Christ. This is going on my "best-of" shelf.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who ever wonders if they are "good enough". In fact, even if you think maybe you ARE good enough, or if you have never asked the question...still read this book! It will make you think; it will point you toward Jesus; it is filled with a rich doctrine of our salvation in Christ. This is going on my "best-of" shelf.
May 1, 2025
Exactly as the subtitle reads - this book tackles the feeling many of us have but don't realize or admit - that we feel like we are failing in the sight of God and our peers. Bethany is here to assure us (through scripture) that in Christ, we are enough because HE has perfected us through his loving sacrifice. We don't have to strive for perfection that we can't achieve. It's not up to us but we can rest in Jesus and on his promises. This book is so relatable and raw
August 18, 2025
This was so good 🥹 it was relatable and written with so much compassion! a must read but especially if you struggle with perfectionism and over exhausting yourself to prove yourself and be “successful”.
July 7, 2025
A great book filled with so many good reminders of truth and lots of scripture to back it all up! Encouraging for all believers!
August 12, 2025
This book is full of Biblical truth and honest reflection on Bethany’s experience in her own faith journey. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
May 5, 2025
This review contains affiliate links
I received Perfected compliments of B&H Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Perfected: Trading Shame and Striving for Wholeness in Christ is the debut title by professor, speaker, and author Bethany Broderick. The book is about Bethany's struggles with perfectionism and how she's found freedom in knowing that God sees her as perfect because of Jesus. I found Perfected to be very relatable and also healing. It comforted me to be repeatedly reminded that I can work out my salvation with fear and trembling because Christ's work is complete. This book would be an excellent read for any Christian and those who have struggled with perfectionism and/or legalism will find it especially helpful.
Bethany writes in a way that is honest and Christ centered. Perfected helps readers remember the gospel message and rejoice in who Jesus is and the work He's doing in us by His Spirit. The chapters are chock-full of Scripture and each one concludes with questions for reflection and Bible references to read for further study. I enjoyed reading Perfected and felt like this book could've been written by me considering how relatable Bethany's story is. This book is a breath of fresh air for the soul. I greatly enjoyed it and I eagerly anticipate reading more by Bethany in the future.
I received Perfected compliments of B&H Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Perfected: Trading Shame and Striving for Wholeness in Christ is the debut title by professor, speaker, and author Bethany Broderick. The book is about Bethany's struggles with perfectionism and how she's found freedom in knowing that God sees her as perfect because of Jesus. I found Perfected to be very relatable and also healing. It comforted me to be repeatedly reminded that I can work out my salvation with fear and trembling because Christ's work is complete. This book would be an excellent read for any Christian and those who have struggled with perfectionism and/or legalism will find it especially helpful.
Bethany writes in a way that is honest and Christ centered. Perfected helps readers remember the gospel message and rejoice in who Jesus is and the work He's doing in us by His Spirit. The chapters are chock-full of Scripture and each one concludes with questions for reflection and Bible references to read for further study. I enjoyed reading Perfected and felt like this book could've been written by me considering how relatable Bethany's story is. This book is a breath of fresh air for the soul. I greatly enjoyed it and I eagerly anticipate reading more by Bethany in the future.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews