I've come to believe that the thing that "dogged us the most" in the past has the greatest potential to be the story of transformation and redemption for our future. It could be THE KEY to unlocking our whole life...
Broke - to Wealthy Philanthropist.
Broken Marriage - to Incredible Marriage
Trapped in Unforgiveness - to Free and Loving.
Hate your Job - to Love Your Job.
You might not think this about me - but my biggest struggles in the past have centered around lacking confidence, feeling like a fraud and choosing "stinkin thinkin" or being a chronic "negaholic."
NEGATIVE SELF IMAGE and NEGATIVE THINKING has truly been what created some of the biggest failures in my life. (At times turned on myself to become seasons and years of depression)
I was nursery school kid who was locked in the bathroom stall because I cried, kicked and screamed. I was the youngest son (of 3) who was known for slamming doors, refusing to wear the red coat (told my father it was a "piece of ship,") kicking in a priceless painting with my shoe, and constantly asking my dad, "Why should I?" when told to do things, I had a lot to work on!
So, was my emotional intelligence intelligent by nature? No. By nurture? No.
Instead adult neurosis has been a struggle with negative thinking (I was once given the book Negaholicsto read by a counselor), feeling entitled in one moment (I was once given a book on Humility.. And How I Almost Achieved It by a mentor who wrote it) and in another moment and feeling unworthy the next. ( Given the book Search for Significance by another mentor )
I didn't write the book on being negative, self-centered and feeling like a worm - I was given the books!
[cryout-pullquote t write the book on being negative, self-centered and feeling like a worm - I was given the books! [/cryout-pullquote]
So, as I seek to do as many now practice on New Years - Coming up with ONE WORD as a focus for the year, I believe that the transformation of broken things and people is what I need to be all about.... including my own ongoing transformation.
Well...
Is it possible that the your greatest "weaknesses" to be transformed into your greatest breakthroughs?
Hmmmm... that is what it seems to say in the Bible, isn't it?
(2 Cor. 12:9)
Is it possible for the greatest transformation THROUGH you be the same transformation that's happening IN you?
For me, the transformation of a mind from a focused on the "impossible" to real faith in the "possible?" feels like my own lynchpin. The key!
Though I'm totally about helping people lean into their strengths, God tends to show up in areas of the "impossible." Seen that too many times!
