God’s grace is sufficient.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
As of today…I believe it.
No more striving. No more reaching. No more grasping and clinging and hoarding. No more thinking I have to be perfect to measure up. No more pride.
Well, at least for today. Maybe I should say at least for this hour. I already messed up this morning.
Old habits die hard.
Just this morning I was talking to a friend and she was asking about the blog and telling me she really liked my writing. I was feeling proud and pumped up and then she mentioned a possible opportunity and asked me if I have gone to their website and I jumped in with “Why, do they have a blog?” and I started thinking about how I was going to write something to submit to them. My mind started churning with how I was going to achieve more and get more and be known more and be somebody.
I forgot.
I already am somebody.
I am the beloved child of the King. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am blessed and I am a blessing.
It doesn’t matter what I do. It matters that I’m His.
I matter.
I’ve heard it said that this is one of the greatest desires of our hearts – to matter. We don’t want our lives to go unnoticed.
Maybe in the past this meant that we wanted to serve others, raise healthy children, and speak kind words.
This reminds me of the Emerson quote I have hanging in my house:
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
Do we still believe this defines success? Or now does success mean we must have a reality show, write a book that ends up on the New York Times best seller list, be followed by thousands on twitter and make millions of dollars while looking perfect?
There have been times that I’ve fallen into the trap of believing that my worth depends on how the world sees me so I have transformed myself to the world. This has made me feel uncomfortable and icky in my heart. This is a gift because those feelings are God’s warning signs. That gut feeling that something is “not right” is the Holy Spirit whispering, “Reroute, turn, stop…let’s review…where are we going…why?”
It says in Romans 12:2:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
And in The Message in Ephesians 2 it says:
“You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.”
I love it when I read the Bible and I get schooled. I will be thinking, “Are you talking to me?” and then I realize without a doubt, HE IS TALKING TO ME.
Just in case you aren’t sure…Yes, He’s talking to you too.
You matter.
you are such an inspiration. I keep thinking of our time together and how they loved us and when they were all done loving us , they turned around and loved us some more!!! It gave me the freedom and trust to look inside and see the real me. Will the real Kimberly please stand up!! I read this blog and I hear in your words the same thing. Thank you from sharing from your heart! Its beautiful, just like you friend.
Love Kimberly
Thank you, Sue! I see God is still working hard in you, too. It isn’t easy, but it is so necessary and I am thankful.