Over and over I’ve been reading – in my daily devotions and in the Word – about how to be the woman God created me to be and to do the things God created me to do. It was all last week, like really, almost every day.
The one thing that really got me thinking was this question… what things make me unique? The writer of the devotion asked several other questions such as what do I like to do? What are my strengths and weakness’? Those didn’t hit the same nerve. Those are questions I’ve been asked by others since high school and have been asking myself since about then too, but this unique question – that was a bit harder for me.
There aren't enough parameters for this question. Unique how?
Like how I look?
Or how I dress?
Or how I talk?
Or my talents or abilities?
Or just in general?
Or how I parent my kids?
I didn’t know how to answer the question and I started to get a bit stressed out about it! Now, I don’t think the idea of the devotional was to stress me out, so I decided just to ponder the question and not feel like I needed an actual answer right that minute. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it since then. I’m still not sure I’ve come up with the "right answer", but I think I’ve come to understand that there might not BE a right answer but that it might be a process.
A process of seeking out what makes me unique.
A process of seeking God's will for me.
A process of becoming who God wants me to be.
And that I learn more each day.
Some days aren’t good. I don't think I do well in becoming more like Christ, more who He wants me to be. Some days I see that what makes me unique is that I loss my cool with my kids and I’m laden with guilt about yelling at them (For heaven-sakes, their just small) and I know guilt isn't good. Then there are some days I feel so stressed out about making changings that it all seems overwhelming - like it's too much and I'll never be who God created me to be! So I don't change at all!
BUT then there are days when I get up and read this in the Word:
The one thing that really got me thinking was this question… what things make me unique? The writer of the devotion asked several other questions such as what do I like to do? What are my strengths and weakness’? Those didn’t hit the same nerve. Those are questions I’ve been asked by others since high school and have been asking myself since about then too, but this unique question – that was a bit harder for me.
There aren't enough parameters for this question. Unique how?
Like how I look?
Or how I dress?
Or how I talk?
Or my talents or abilities?
Or just in general?
Or how I parent my kids?
I didn’t know how to answer the question and I started to get a bit stressed out about it! Now, I don’t think the idea of the devotional was to stress me out, so I decided just to ponder the question and not feel like I needed an actual answer right that minute. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it since then. I’m still not sure I’ve come up with the "right answer", but I think I’ve come to understand that there might not BE a right answer but that it might be a process.
A process of seeking out what makes me unique.
A process of seeking God's will for me.
A process of becoming who God wants me to be.
And that I learn more each day.
Some days aren’t good. I don't think I do well in becoming more like Christ, more who He wants me to be. Some days I see that what makes me unique is that I loss my cool with my kids and I’m laden with guilt about yelling at them (For heaven-sakes, their just small) and I know guilt isn't good. Then there are some days I feel so stressed out about making changings that it all seems overwhelming - like it's too much and I'll never be who God created me to be! So I don't change at all!
BUT then there are days when I get up and read this in the Word:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18&19
And I know then that what makes me unique is that the Lord Jesus loves me and I am his child and I don’t have to dwell on the past, I can live today in Him and be who He wants me to be in His strength, not on my own, but through Him - TODAY. Tomorrow we can start again new, Keeping the good from today and adding it to the new thing that God will do tomorrow!
That easies the stress of how do I change? How do I become who He wants me to be? I trust Him! His grace is sufficient!! He is doing a new thing!
And for that I am more grateful than words could ever say.
That easies the stress of how do I change? How do I become who He wants me to be? I trust Him! His grace is sufficient!! He is doing a new thing!
And for that I am more grateful than words could ever say.
