Earlier last week, I came across many one-on-one conversations with my 8-year-old niece Reagan who was visiting for the holidays. She would constantly ask me how I did this or how I did that, wanting to know my inner secrets, so she could attempt and perfect in one try, and be like her amazingly talented Aunt (insert audience laughs).
My response was always to her that nothing comes easy, and that actually a lot of things take hard work and practice. By the end of the week, whenever she would ask me the same questions again, before I could sputter out the words "Well...", she would respond, "I know what you are going to say...that it takes hard work and practice." I believe a few eye rolls were inserted somewhere in between her words as well - I tried my best to ignore those.
Trying to explain that perfection doesn't exist outside of Christ was a little difficult to fully communicate to an 8-year-old, but what I realized was that it's difficult to even process myself. What I saw in her throughout our conversations is that she strives for perfection and to achieve anything and everything that comes her way - but I also saw my own doubts and anxieties I face in what I cannot fully understand immediately or cannot control myself through her and our conversations. I saw myself in my 8-year-old - which could be good and bad (sorry Nat and Jason!!!)
Oh, and that it only took me a conversation that I had tonight with my husband to make that connection. Talk about mind explosion! God used Reagan to speak to me when I thought I was speaking to her.
As my own passions and talents grow, the discouragement in my own mind only seems to get louder. The deeper I want to grow and the braver the work is in front of me, the more resistance I face. I am finally calling out to God for fresh perspective, courage, and perseverance. I pray for a revival in my heart that will spark flames of it in others. We are all fighting the same fights. We are all fighting the resistance to CREATE. God is the creator of creatives. It is through Him, with Him, for Him and because of Him that we build and dream and create! God, stir and move me. I am yours!
"When God births a burden in your heart, lean into it." - Andy Stanley
1 1) Stop
comparing yourself to other people's callings, gifts, and talents.
§
You are uniquely made - there is no one like you
and there is no one that can offer/give what you can
§
God doesn't call just one of us to do one
particular calling
22) Surround
yourself with those who support you, encourage you, pick you up, and cheer you
on!
33) Remember
why you are called and what your calling is.
§
Write down/document the point of when God revealed
to you His unique calling for you and your "why" - in times of
discouragement and doubt, recall and cling to this!
44) ADMIT IT
NOW - Perfection will never come!
§
"Grow His Kingdom, not yours. You will mess
up, you will get lost, but when you do, choose grace and then keep going".
Jess Connolly
55) God has
the power to create something extraordinary in and through our seasons of
wrestling with doubts and despairs.
§
God = The Dream Giver
o
Christ will redeem
o
Christ will inspire
o
Christ will build something bigger than us
Whatever we do in Christ, there will always be a journey. This will include joys, weariness, fears, success, loss, restoration, creativity, brokenness, rest, and nothing. On any given day, no matter what you face, stay connected to the Dream Giver through prayer and His word. Let our prayers restore hope, conviction, encouragement, and guidance. And remember that He can even use a conversation with an 8-year-old to speak to you and show you His truth.
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