Gain A New Perspective

Psalm 27:13

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” 

I am a two-time, stage four cancer survivor.  Last year I went through an extended period I nicknamed the death days.  From the moment I opened my eyes each morning until they closed again at night, I contended with a sense of impending doom.  I was afraid, tired, and overwhelmed.  My circumstances were desperate, and I constantly thought about my demise.

Eventually, I broke through the haze and remembered to choose life.

In Psalm 27, we find the future King David in a tough spot of his own.  He was at war with enemies who were persistent in their desire to chase him down and kill him.  David retreated into caves in order to survive.  Yet David did not lose heart or despair, but rather he saw a vision of his future - one in which he would live.

We want our pain, discomfort, loss, or sorrow to be quickly overcome.  We would rather believe in God’s goodness after the fact than hold fast to our faith with patience during the trial as we wait upon the deliverance of the Lord.

Yet in our waiting we gain new perspective.

In the secret places with God we remember His faithfulness, remind ourselves of His promises, and gain both strength and endurance to overcome even the most difficult trials. If you feel battered and hopeless, draw away from the violence to seek sanctuary with the Lord. Take heart and allow His love and truth to change your perspective.

Prayer: Lord, You are a good God.  Thank you for meeting me in my most difficult moments with Your grace, mercy and goodness.

Claim Your Inheritance

Ephesians 1:18

“I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called you, and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.”

When my sweet dad suddenly passed away in 2001, he left very little to our family in terms of possessions or wealth. But the longer he is gone, the more aware I am of the greatness of my spiritual legacy. It was my dad who sparked my interest in spiritual life. He also deposited within me some generational gifts, such as love for people, a commitment to marriage and family, and a desire to honor Christ with my life. Over time I’ve come to understand, value, and claim the real legacy of my father’s life.

In the opening of Ephesians 1, Paul spoke about the power and purpose of our divine gifts and calling. Then in verse 18 he turns his attention from teaching to prayer. Paul, in effect, prayed for a greater spiritual inheritance. He didn’t ask for prosperity, influence, or position, but rather he prayed for enlightenment of the heart and the hope of our calling. He wanted us to lay hold of the blessings of God.

How many of us think of our heavenly inheritance according to the things we can see and measure, limiting our understanding of God’s goodness toward us? What if there is a greater legacy yet to be seen for those who love the Lord?

I challenge you to pray boldly Paul’s prayer over your own life. Ask the Lord for greater understanding of the blessings, promises, and plans that are hidden in His heart for you.

Prayer: Help me, Holy Spirit, to have an enlightened heart that empowers me to claim the deepest blessings of my inheritance.

Embrace Small Beginnings

“Who dares despise the day of small things?”

Zechariah 4:10

My husband and I had struggled with infertility for years. On some days we were tempted to give up hope of ever becoming parents. We could imagine the picture of our family, but with the passing of time and no pregnancy, our anticipation had begun to give way to despair.

Then something seemingly small turned the tide of our life.

When my husband and I saw our daughter on a sonogram for the first time, she was so small that my husband said she looked like a mosquito. For months he would call her skeeter. It was hard to believe that the tiny throbbing heart would one day develop into a beautiful six-pound, three-ounce baby girl.

Something similar was happening to the Jewish people in Zechariah 4. They had begun to believe that the temple of God would never be reestablished. As a result they were blind to the small signs of progress along the way. Just when they had almost given up hope, along came the prophet Zechariah with a reminder. He looked right into the face of small beginnings and declared they would yet see the capstone of the temple set in perfect precision and order.

Are you holding on to a God-sized promise and seeing only a little bit of progress? Don’t despise the small beginnings, but rather watch for them and embrace them. Remind yourself with every moment that God is overseeing His word and His promises. He has not forgotten you. Keep your eyes on the capstone of your faith, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Teach me to embrace and rejoice in small beginnings, knowing that You will bring about great things.

Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming the Fear of Fraud and Finding Your Authentic Self

Guest Blog by Morgan Klefeker

Have you ever felt like a fraud in your own position? Unqualified, unprepared, underdeveloped? Like if anyone really truly found out your capabilities or lack thereof, you would be booted out?

There is a psychological explanation for this feeling: Imposter Syndrome. This universal feeling undercuts the most talented, experienced, and capable people in and outside of the workforce. And it’s a lie.This phenomenon of self-doubt has led to many struggling with anxiety and depression. In his book Abba’s Child, Brennan Manning says this: “Imposters are preoccupied with acceptance and approval. Because of their suffocating need to please others, they cannot say no with the same confidence with which they say yes. And so they overextend themselves in people, projects and causes, motivated not by personal commitment but by the fear of not living up to others' expectations” (30).

According to Valerie Young, an expert on Imposter Syndrome and author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, there are five different manifestations of Imposter Syndrome: the Perfectionist, the Expert, the Natural Genius, the Soloist, and the Superman or Superwomen. 

The Perfectionist: sets impossible standards and doubts their own abilities or worth when they are unable to meet them

• Do you have difficulty delegating to others? Are you a micromanager?

The Expert: worth is based on their knowledge about their position or field

• Are you afraid of asking questions or saying “I don’t know?”

The Natural Genius: believe that their worth is based on how quickly they can pick something up

• Do you avoid challenges if you know it’s something you won’t immediately excel at?

The Soloist: refuse help because they believe it shows incompetence

• Are you afraid or ashamed of asking for help?

The Superwoman: overload themselves with too many tasks in order to feel like they measure up

• Is it difficult for you to say no to more tasks even when you have hit your limits? Do you find it difficult to rest because of all the work you “have to do”?

If you relate to any of the above, you have experienced Imposter Syndrome. Ultimately, Imposter Syndrome is a lie that people come to believe. They tie their worth to their achievement. The truth is that you are a child of God, perfectly loved before you even had the opportunity to do something perfect. You have nothing to prove, nothing to hide, nothing to lose.

God is our true and ultimate source, not our own striving or abilities.

Here are a couple of practical ways to combat Imposter Syndrome:

1. Reflect on what lie or manifestation of Imposter Syndrome you might struggle with. Do those feelings of inadequacy get in the way of your calling?

2. Now, Invite the Holy Spirit to speak the truth into this lie. If you feel inadequate, talentless, stupid, or weak, ask God to show you the truth and speak over you. (John 14:6; John 8:32; John 16:13)

3. Be vulnerable and bring a trusted friend or coworker into the conversation. Vulnerability brings light to the darkest places and builds bridges between the largest gaps. It is not weakness, it is strength. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; James 5:16; Galatians 6:2).

4. Thank God. Insecurity and Imposter Syndrome in extension, robs your opportunities to thank and praise God for all He has done in your life and through you. Take time to thank God for your accomplishments and position, knowing that He is the true source. (2 Corinthians 4:7; Psalm 29; Daniel 2:23).

References:

Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978) The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: theory, research, and practice, 15(3), 241-247. https://mpowir.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Download-IP-in-High-Achieving-Women.pdf

Manning, B. (1994). Abba’s child: The cry of the heart for intimate belonging. NavPress Publishing Group.

Weir, K. (2013). Feel like a fraud? gradPSYCH Magazine. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud

Wilding, M. J. (2021). 5 Different types of imposter syndrome: and 5 ways to battle each one. The Muse. https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-different-types-of-imposter-syndrome-and-5-ways-to-battle-each-one

For The Woman Who Feels Overwhelmed

Guest Blog by Marisa Donnelly.

To find out more about this Brave Strong Girl Mentor, simply visit her mentor profile right here!

This is for the woman who is tired and overworked, for the woman who can barely lift her head. This is for the woman who may need a few cups of coffee to get through the day, or has simply been exhausted this season and unable to find her footing again. 

I want you to know that I see you, I hear you—you are not alone.

I wish I could tell you that things will get easier, but the truth about life is that there are always ups and downs. Yes, the short answer is that things will get easier. But they will also get harder from time to time. They will also be frustrating. And you will undoubtedly question your purpose, the lesson, and whether God is even listening at all. (He is.)

It’s been a hard season, a hard year. There have been unexpected turns and curveballs, opportunities that have been missed and chances you thought you would take but couldn’t. Maybe you lost a loved one. Maybe loved walked out on you. Maybe you believed in something better, only to be disappointed by the outcome. I know how that feels.

I wish I had the right words, the proverbial magic wand, or the prayer that would take it all away. But life doesn’t work like that. Life is dead ends and turn-arounds, broken stoplights, open highways, and stop signs when you least expect them. 

Life is learning how to navigate all of the roadblocks only to realize God’s been in the driver’s seat all along. 

I know you feel overwhelmed right now, maybe even a little out of control. I know you’re just trying to keep afloat, plastering a smile on your face because you think you should. It’s hard, trying to keep appearances when you just want to curl up under a blanket. I see you, I know. 

But the truth is—even amidst all of this pain—there is hope. And not the kind of hope that slips through your fingers like sand, but the hope that stays. The hope that sticks. 

There won’t be a perfectly-paved road or an interstate without traffic. There won’t be green lights all along the path. But there will be moments of joy that you can cling to, laughter that sits in your belly, smiles that unconsciously lift the corners of your mouth, good books you will read, grass between your toes, and loved ones whose touches on your skin make you feel alive. 

There will be infinite little moments that remind you of the beauty of God’s creation—this life and you. 

So please, hold on just a little longer. Take a deep breath, then another, then another. Call up a loved one. Cry in your pillow. Read the Bible. Take a long walk. Try to reset yourself and when you can’t, pray until the pain subsides.

Because even though you’re overwhelmed, you won’t feel this way forever.

You may feel tired and weak right now, but our God carries us through the darkest storms. And He is with you right now. (I promise.)

The Power of Hope

Never underestimate the power of hope.

The Bible gives us so many promises in Scripture around the topic of hope.

Recently, I started writing down various scriptures with the word hope. There are so many! But by the time I finished writing the 5th scripture (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 31:24, Romans 15:13, Hebrews 6:19, Romans 5:3), I noticed a pivot in my thinking. Suddenly, I begin to see hope as a reality. Like an overwhelming sense of expectation coming alive in my soul.

·         Expect doors to open

·         Expect your enemies to scatter

·         Expect shackles to fall off your feet so that you can dance

·         Expect your heart to sing again

·         Expect to fall more in love with Jesus and His Word

·         Expect to plant seeds of hope for others

Oh, my dear sister-friend, God’s Word is alive and active.

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalms 31:24) NLT

Rhonda Love

intercessor, business professional, advisory team lead