Finding Faith in the Mess
Peter. Let’s talk about this guy. Peter was in the inner circle with Jesus. He hung with the crew that eventually changed the world. A group of misfits bound together by a king; a king that looked nothing like royalty. Can I be honest? Peter …
bout three years ago, I latched onto a phrase with a vengeance. I wrote it on a chalkboard I kept in my office, scribbled it on a 3×5 card and kept it in my Bible. I wrote about it and talked about it all the time.
I wanted women across the globe to find their confidence in the only One that matters and not look to those empty spaces like media, other women, and the like. We are so much more than we give ourselves credit for, and I wanted ladies to begin believing in themselves; seeing themselves for their true value and worth.
I preached this expression any chance I got. It became my passion. Yet, it has taken me years since grasping this saying to find my own confidence.
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
I don’t know if it is because I am in my forties and I just don’t care anymore, or, I am actually finally coming into my own, but I think I may have finally found my confidence in the last couple of years.
People may be shocked to hear this since I tend to be an extroverted individual. I don’t mind getting up and speaking in front of people. I tend to speak the truth to friends when most would shy away and let things slide. I take on roles that don’t fit someone who is questioning her self-confidence, yet I struggled in this space.
Confidence is hard to come by. You want to be humble and not known as the snobby one. I tend to downplay any compliment that comes my way. I like to veer the attention off of myself and onto others. I want to be comfortable in my own skin but sometimes it feels tight and uncomfortable.
I think part of what has helped me embrace my confidence is finally going after a dream. I lived for permission and acceptance from others for too long. I am done with worrying about the world’s opinion and ready to venture into some uncomfortable places in order to chase a vision I honestly believe the Lord gave me years ago. And you know what? If chasing and fulfilling this dream is solely for me, than I succeeded because I remained faithful to the calling God has given me.
My husband can’t give me my confidence. Neither can my friends. Social media sure as heck won’t fill that confidence bucket. If anything, it will completely deplete it instead.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
When we lack confidence, we do so primarily out of fear. We are afraid of what others think of us (or will think of us). Or, someone told us once how bad we were at something or how unattractive we are, or how unintelligent we are, or that we are not good enough. Our self-skepticism is rooted in fear and God calls us out of fear. He tells us that we are filled with power, love, and a sound mind. If we allow fear to intimidate our confidence, we are not of sound mind.
We are built to be confident in our calling. It is how the Creator created us. He had a unique design in mind when he created you and me. It is our responsibility to walk boldly in our calling.
Honestly, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what other people think. The number of likes, followers, or readers does not equal your value. As long as you remain true to God and to yourself, your confidence is steadfast.
So go. Lead with exuberance because you are called to be exactly who you are, exactly where you are, at this exact moment in time. Own your space in this world. Claim it and live it out boldly. I dare you!
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I was cleaning up our bedroom removing sheets and letting air out of the air mattresses. The boys had a little slumber party in our room. One mattress was at the end of our bed, the other on one side of our bed. I had to walk back and forth to get everything torn down. Every time I walked to the left side of the bed, I tripped over the corner of the rug. Do you have a rug that does that? Is there a corner of a rug in your house that curls up and no matter how many books you stack on it, it never lays flat? Anytime I make our bed, I trip on that stupid rug.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
Before you click that “X” in the top corner, I want you to know that this isn’t a post about what horrible sinners we are. This is a post about freedom.
How often do we have junk in our lives and instead of attacking it head on, we stuff it down? We keep piling books on top of our issues hoping they will flatten out by morning. When they don’t, we just stack more books on top hoping to hide the problem down deeper and deeper and deeper. Maybe, if we get that pile of books high enough, we will forget about what is underneath. Maybe.
Here’s the problem with this method: eventually, that stack of books is going to topple over and you are left with a corner in your life that is still tripping you up.
You can try as hard as you’d like to get that pile of books stacked just right, but it will eventually come tumbling down. You will be in a rush and run right into that
heap knocking the whole thing over. You will try and cross its path tripping on that little corner that is still curled up because you never dealt with the real issue.
Unfold that rug.
Stacking books on the fold can only hide the problem for so long. It is time we free ourselves from the junk buried down deep and face them head on. We need to let go of the fear that this is too hard or too painful and rest in the promise that He IS faithful and He WILL forgive us making us whole again.
It is time we remove that pile of books and unfold that rug. You will never be ready, so what are you waiting for?
Unfold that rug.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
When I sat back on my own and thought about the season we were about to enter, I was smacked in the face with one thing: the moment my son steps foot on that middle school campus, the countdown begins.
I had good intentions with my quiet time. I sat down, lit my candle, got my pen and journal ready (I forgot to tell you that journaling during quiet time was an absolute must), and opened my Bible. I prayed. And then my brain started wandering.
You ARE valued.
You ARE valuable.
You ARE worthy.
You ARE highly favored.
You ARE loved.
We need YOU.
My youngest was taking a bath in my bath tub while I was getting ready for bed. We were chit-chatting about things when he noticed a 3×5 card on my mirror.
W: Why do you have that sign on your mirror, Mommy?
Me: I need it. It’s a good reminder for me.
W: Why do you need a reminder that “You have what it takes”?
M: Because everyone needs that reminder every now and then.
We ALL need a reminder that we add value to this world. We need to be told that we matter. Most of us, including myself, struggle with worth from time-to-time; sometimes all the time. We want to matter. We want to have a positive impact on this world. But, far too often, we instead feel alone, unqualified, and marginalized. We feel like someone else is doing it so no one needs us. We believe the lie that our voice adds nothing. We forget that we are valuable.
You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done – but simply because you are. Max Lucado
You are valuable just because you exist; because God created you. He created you for a purpose and out of love. That is enough. I know many times it does not feel like enough, but it is.
You are valuable.
This world needs you. We need you. We need your voice, your stories, the gifts you don’t think you have. We need your love, your hugs, your mistakes, your mess. We need it. All of it. Every single thing that makes you you: WE NEED THAT.
So, when you are feeling worthless, when you are feeling completely alone remember that you are needed. You are valuable just because you exist.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
What kind of home did you grow up in? Was it loud and boisterous like mine? Or quiet and reserved like Sarah’s? In this week’s episode, Sarah and I talk about how we dehumanize ourselves as moms. We believe that hiding our emotional state protects …
