I Was Born to do Hard Things

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I heard this phrase: "I was born to do hard things" in a teaching this morning and suddenly it hit me, I was created for more than an ordinary life.

I know we have all been told this, maybe we all have something on our walls that says "you are amazing, live amazing" (I don't know... I totally made that up), but how many of us believe it? How many of us actually lean into that feeling on the inside that says, "hey, maybe there is more to life than this." And maybe we don't want to because it feels like wanting to be great or longing for a glorious existence is not Christian or humble, but I'm beginning to understand that this feeling was placed in us by God himself. The greatness and beauty in you and me show others how great and beautiful He is, and our inability to step into that is less a testament of His power than it is a testament of our fear. And sometimes it's not even fear, it's straight up laziness.

I can't tell you how many times in my life I used the phrase "I'm just trusting God" to sit back and do nothing - literally nothing. I didn't pray, I didn't fast, I didn't contend for God's promises over my life, I just "trusted." But that wasn't really trust, it was an excuse. It was my justification for doing nothing and literally nowhere in the Bible does God tell His people to just go about their lives and do whatever they want so long as they claim to trust Him in the end. That's not who He is. He's not an enabler, He's a king, a judge, a Father, a Savior who redeemed us out of sin and into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. So what are we doing sitting around? Why do we wait for a conference, 500 confirmations, 3 prophetic words, and a vision of the Throne Room to do what we've always known we have to do? Ye of little faith. Don't you know who your God is? Don't I? If we did, I daresay that our lives would look radically different than they currently do. I know mine would.

So today I dare to own this truth: I was born to do hard things and thrive in them.

I was born to take up my cross and follow Him into a glorious destiny for His namesake. I was born to be unstoppable not by my strengths or my merits but because He is. Simple as that. And I believe this truth can change the world–starting with me. May my prayer cease to be, "Lord, take this trouble from me" or "Lord, take away this pain" and turn into "Lord, take me through the fire, take me through the pain, take me through the testing, I'll do any thing! How far will you let me go? How abandoned will you let me be? How wild will you make my life for your glory and for your name?" (some of those words borrowed from Misty Edwards). I commit to stepping into that, who's with me?

Think about it.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

-Marianne Williamson

Comments

  1. DiwakarAugust 8, 2018 at 11:14 PM

    Hello Ilse Marie. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest in making manifest the glory of God that is within us as a child of God who is a follower of Christ. I enjoyed your post which is so encouraging and spirit lifting. I love getting connected with the people of God around the blog post to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 39 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to Mumbai to work with us during your vacation time. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 26, 2018 at 10:47 PM

      Thank you for your comment! India has always had a special place in my heart and I am so glad to get to bless you and your work there!

      Delete
  2. guruFebruary 13, 2019 at 7:04 AM

    Nice post , Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete

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