Category: I’ am afraid to be me

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When others shut us down…

It is possible to do something excellently and still get rude remarks. It is possible for others to envy our work and try to shut us down. Our natural response might be to protect ourselves, to run away and hide.

In the Bible, someone experienced the same, and this man hid out in the wilderness, inside a cave. But God asked him, ‘What are you doing here?’

That man poured out his heart, but God gave him another perspective. He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord…’

Those who are envious will try to force us into hiding, but God pulls us out into the open. He shows us that next good thing to do.

(from 1 Kings 19:9-18) (photo by M Venter: https://www.pexels.com)

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I wanted to be invisible.

I didn’t want to be seen. Someone might get jealous. Someone might criticize my creativity. But Jesus didn’t agree with my fears.

He said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). He didn’t say, “Wait until everyone agrees with you”, or “Hide your talents until everyone feels happy.” He said, “Get out there with stubborn courage and SHINE!”

Why? Because we are the only ones who can express our talents. And when we let our own personalities mix with our own talents, we will step out of the invisible. We will be who God wants us to be. We will shine.

It is a choice, a scary choice, but worth every sweat drop and tear.


Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash