You Are Capable. You Can Do this.

It’s been a long journey, with many ups and downs. Many people who said they were going to be best friends for life may have left you, those who were the closest to you may have betrayed you. You may have found yourself in a place in life that makes you scratch your head, like “God what are you even doing with me right now?” It can feel confusing, hard, and exhausting. Especially when you feel like you’re giving it your all and nothing is happening the way you thought it should. You might feel like you’re doing everything by the book, or the best you know how, and it still looks like a dead end. What is going on? Is it your fault? Is there something else at play that you’re not aware of?

I found myself in a place like this about seven years ago. I was working and doing everything that I thought God wanted me to be doing, even though deep down inside I was miserable. Nothing seemed to be going right. Doors seemed to be closed at every turn, and it was becoming mind-numbingly frustrating. When I almost reached my wit’s end after a couple years of this, my wife sat me down to have a conversation and through nothing other than an act of the Holy Spirit, our eyes were opened to the truth that we had an incorrect assumption about what we were supposed to be doing with our lives. I had been making decisions based on fear of man, what others thought of me, and because what I was doing looked good on the outside and made sense to me on paper. But what the Lord revealed was that even though it may have seemed good outwardly, it wasn’t what He had led me to do. It was those feelings deep down inside that were His guidance, that feeling of “this just isn’t right”.

As soon as we made our decision to change what we were doing, instantly we both felt such a tangible blanket of the peace of the Holy Spirit, unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. A weight was taken off, and we knew it was the right choice. And in the weeks and months following, the rate and the number of blessings that began to open for us was beyond description. It felt like a floodgate of provision had been opened!

I share this with you to encourage you that if you find yourself in a season like this, there is hope. Sometimes what seems like an immovable wall of frustration, was really put there by God to keep you from going somewhere you shouldn’t. Perhaps it was God’s grace to keep you on track even when you didn’t know any better (or you thought you knew better). Maybe there is something deep down inside that you’ve always known you wanted to do, but you were afraid of what others would think if you did it (or stopped doing what they wanted).

If this is you, I would encourage you to take some time to get quiet and listen to your heart- the still quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself if what you’re doing is to please others, or if you really feel like it resonates deeply to the core of who you are. Only you can answer that question. If you’re in this place, many of you probably already know what you should be doing, but maybe you haven’t had anyone encourage you that you could do it.

I’m here to tell you right now- you can do this. You are capable. God has made you to be more than a conqueror, and you are already victorious in his eyes. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more, or any less. But I can tell you this- there is a hurting world out there that needs YOU. Your talents, your gifts, your love and compassion. And above all know this. He has a bright and amazing plan for your life, one that will invigorate and fill you with joy. Not only can you do it, but with the Lord’s help, you will do it. And do it with style.

Let go of the doubts and fears. Cast off the opinions of man or people who would keep you under their thumb of manipulation and control. Set yourself free and be the authentic you that you knew you could be this whole time. You can do this!

Father, I thank you for guiding me and showing me your plan for my life. I thank you for loving me unconditionally and showing me your goodness. I ask you for the confidence to step forward into my destiny regardless of anyone around me. Thank you for the peace of Christ that surrounds every part of my being as I follow your call on my life. Thank you for your strength and courage to be the person you created me to be, one who radiates your love, peace and joy wherever I am sent. I thank you and praise you in Jesus’ mighty name, amen.