Savior Complex

You might have met someone who suffers from a God complex. According to the medical dictionary, the term is used to describe “a personality flaw commonly seen in physicians, especially surgeons, who perceive themselves as omniscient—i.e., God-like—and thus treat others as mere mortals.”

Although I don’t know anyone with a God complex, I might know a few who display a Savior Complex. This is the term I use to describe those of us who feel compelled to fix every situation, even when it is beyond our control.

I have a tendency to approach every crisis as if I were a Baywatch lifeguard. I like to pretend up I’m going to ride up glamorously in a jet ski and save anyone in distress. Unfortunately, I’m more like a person in an unstable canoe who can barely stay afloat. I can’t even direct my own canoe where it needs to go. I’m more likely to tip over and end up underwater dragging the other person down along with me. Yet my savior complex kicks in, and I run in without being asked, without considering if I’m adding to the problem. Instead of acting like a delusional superhero, I could acknowledge that there is a real Life Guard on duty.

 “If you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” (1 Peter 4:17-19 MSG)

We have a Savior who knows what He’s doing. All we need to do is call out to Him and be ready to assist, if He asks.

“Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation.” (2 Corinthians. 1:8-11 MSG)