“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Sometimes I find this hard to comprehend. Other days, like today, it speaks to a part of my heart that knows it to be true. I am not inadequate, that is a lie. The lie holds us back, it's meant to. We are children of God, we can do what seems impossible, our light cannot be hidden. (Though we may try.)
&it's a challenge, to oh so many things. To not play small, to not let the world tell me it's safer/easier/normal/more comfortable to play small. To shine God's glory, to shine His love.
Some challenges are more specific, some are just taking shape.
What are your challenges to serve the world, to shine? Where are you tempted to play small, where do you want to shine?
Wisdomousness! I have been thinking a lot about playing small lately...it's some sort of paradox, to me, that "playing big" in the ways that matter looks, to the world, like playing small...does that make sense? It's a thought that is gradually making itself known in my life. It's bigger on the inside, and all that...
ReplyDeleteI want to shine! :) xx
Thank you for sharing this hun,
ReplyDeleteI know we are 'wonderfully made' but some days it is so difficult to recognise the lies and so easy to become lost in them.
I think I'm going to print this off, hang it by my bed and read it each morning for the next week to remind me to 'shine like a star' because 'I can do all things through Him'
Inspiring you are
xx
please tell me where the quote is from, I recognise it, I have read it, but the knowledge escapes me!
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