Failure is an Option
I have recently realized I really enjoy sharing my weaknesses and my failures. Once upon a time, I would have trembled in fear at the thought of letting the world know I don't have it all together. I used to think if people knew my faults they would think less of me and the people pleaser that I am could not have that. I had to be 100 % put together all the time, speaking perfectly, dressing perfectly, acting perfectly. As you can imagine, that was a struggle because whether I like it or not, I am not nor will I ever be "perfect." There will always be something I can't do or someone I can't please.
When I stopped hiding from them, I became more aware of my weaknesses and started trying to embrace them. First, I had to speak them out loud, almost like I was speaking them into existence. This helped me recognize I have faults and it's okay to let them out. Once I was able to let it out into the open, then could I ask for help to overcome them or deal with them.
Do you want to know something? Our flaws and imperfections can be improved upon if we just ask for help. We might not get it right 100% of the time, but we can make them better. We don't ever have to stay where we are, and think "we can't help it because that is just the way we are." Let me ask you to put that phrase to rest if it is one that you use to explain away your behavior. It's one I struggle with and it is a lie that the devil wants you to believe. He wants you to stay where you are because in those places, he is winning. He has control.
Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 12:9 about about boasting in our weaknesses because in that place we find Christ Jesus.
But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I (referring to Paul) will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
I have spoke in a previous blog about yelling at soccer games. Now this might not relate to you specifically, but I bet there is some area in your life that you need rest from but you just can' seem to figure out how to get it. The Bible tells me I'm supposed to be patient, kind, encouraging, and exhibit self-control. But I realized one day I was lying to myself. Telling myself that I wasn't that bad, I'm positive and encouraging most of the time so that counts right?! I'm encouraging when I'm happy and everything is going good. But how am I during the bad times? One day, I actually listened to some of the things that I had said when my daughter wasn't playing to what I thought she should be. I realized then that I had turned into the loud, hollering, constantly correcting, obnoxious sports fan that just wouldn't be quiet. I had to comment on everything whether it needed it or not. In the moment, it was like word vomit, I just couldn't keep it from coming out of my mouth. Granted, I did not speak vulgar obscenities, but my words were far from encouraging. This has happened on multiple occasions when she doesn't meet my expectations. I have prayed about it and asked for help, but when it would come down to the moment of truth, I would choke every time. Does this mean God had not heard me and answered my prayer? On the contrary, he gave me the opportunity and the strength to choose the path that led to success, but every time I chose the path that led to failure. After my last opportunity this season to be the encouraging parent my daughter needed, I failed to show up. I began to get down on myself for messing things up yet again. I'm asking why? Why can't I do this? Why can't I control myself? It was then I realized, it's because I'm trying to do it alone. When I'm was at my breaking point, my lowest, my weakest, this was when the light of Jesus finally broke through. He basically said to me, "Tori, it is now that you know you can't do this alone. You wanted to handle this within your own strength, but guess what? You aren't strong enough to handle this on your own. You need me and the only way you were going to see that is through your failure."
Failure is an option. Sometimes it's the only option that will bring about the change you so desperately need in your life. So let me encourage you to share your weaknesses openly, be honest, transparent, and humble. It's when you stop hiding behind them, that true change can happen.
With love,
Tori
When I stopped hiding from them, I became more aware of my weaknesses and started trying to embrace them. First, I had to speak them out loud, almost like I was speaking them into existence. This helped me recognize I have faults and it's okay to let them out. Once I was able to let it out into the open, then could I ask for help to overcome them or deal with them.
Do you want to know something? Our flaws and imperfections can be improved upon if we just ask for help. We might not get it right 100% of the time, but we can make them better. We don't ever have to stay where we are, and think "we can't help it because that is just the way we are." Let me ask you to put that phrase to rest if it is one that you use to explain away your behavior. It's one I struggle with and it is a lie that the devil wants you to believe. He wants you to stay where you are because in those places, he is winning. He has control.
Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 12:9 about about boasting in our weaknesses because in that place we find Christ Jesus.
But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I (referring to Paul) will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
I have spoke in a previous blog about yelling at soccer games. Now this might not relate to you specifically, but I bet there is some area in your life that you need rest from but you just can' seem to figure out how to get it. The Bible tells me I'm supposed to be patient, kind, encouraging, and exhibit self-control. But I realized one day I was lying to myself. Telling myself that I wasn't that bad, I'm positive and encouraging most of the time so that counts right?! I'm encouraging when I'm happy and everything is going good. But how am I during the bad times? One day, I actually listened to some of the things that I had said when my daughter wasn't playing to what I thought she should be. I realized then that I had turned into the loud, hollering, constantly correcting, obnoxious sports fan that just wouldn't be quiet. I had to comment on everything whether it needed it or not. In the moment, it was like word vomit, I just couldn't keep it from coming out of my mouth. Granted, I did not speak vulgar obscenities, but my words were far from encouraging. This has happened on multiple occasions when she doesn't meet my expectations. I have prayed about it and asked for help, but when it would come down to the moment of truth, I would choke every time. Does this mean God had not heard me and answered my prayer? On the contrary, he gave me the opportunity and the strength to choose the path that led to success, but every time I chose the path that led to failure. After my last opportunity this season to be the encouraging parent my daughter needed, I failed to show up. I began to get down on myself for messing things up yet again. I'm asking why? Why can't I do this? Why can't I control myself? It was then I realized, it's because I'm trying to do it alone. When I'm was at my breaking point, my lowest, my weakest, this was when the light of Jesus finally broke through. He basically said to me, "Tori, it is now that you know you can't do this alone. You wanted to handle this within your own strength, but guess what? You aren't strong enough to handle this on your own. You need me and the only way you were going to see that is through your failure."
Failure is an option. Sometimes it's the only option that will bring about the change you so desperately need in your life. So let me encourage you to share your weaknesses openly, be honest, transparent, and humble. It's when you stop hiding behind them, that true change can happen.
With love,
Tori
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