“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)
No one is harder on us than us; we look in the mirror and see warts that only we can see. Comparing ourselves to others reinforces notions we may have about our being inferior or flawed. And, those feelings of inadequacy only build while listening to someone share an amazing personal or professional successful experience; or, are celebrating all the wonderful things going on in their families. Depending on where you are in your journey, it may not take much to put you into pit about how you feel about yourself or your current situation.
This is even more real for parents dealing with addiction. There is that pervasive, underlying feeling of guilt that somehow, my child’s addiction was avoidable. Even though you do not believe it is your fault, you cannot help but wonder what you could have done differently; or, you struggle with some sense of failure in not being able to fix the problem.
Regardless of where you are on your journey and your learning curve, you have been prepared to do the work God requires of you. You have been made perfect in his image for good works. You don’t need to be better to be a gift to others, you are already perfectly prepared. The challenge is embracing the faith to believe in this!
When Jesus directed his disciples to go out and minister, his disciples worried about being properly trained and said “what do we say?” Jesus’ response was the Holy Spirit will give you what you need. The only training they had up to that time was witnessing Jesus’ example. He didn’t send them to a discipleship development class. He didn’t give them a diploma at the end of a formal training program. There wasn’t any final certification exam. Most importantly, he didn’t pre-qualify them when he told them to “follow me” at the beginning of their journey. Jesus knew they were ready when he called them.
Whatever life assignment you are working on, God has prepared you for the task. He has specifically chosen you for this task. He chose you for this task because he knew you were capable of handling it. Whether it is parenting, working, witnessing, counseling, or simply listening, God put you in that specific position because he knows your heart, he knows how he formed you, and he knows where you are on your growth curve.
He knows what he is doing!
Stop doubting yourself. Trust in Him. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit you are able to do what you have been called to do. Let go of your worries about being inadequate or incomplete or incapable; and embrace the belief that your Father has already given you everything you need to work through this in a powerful manner. Look to Him for guidance and remember this verse if you struggle to find confidence in this belief. You are not flawed and you have not failed; you are perfectly prepared for the path he has put you on. Let the Holy Spirit direct you!
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Is your child addicted to drugs or alcohol? Are you trapped on the emotional rollercoaster of addiction? Dave Cooke can help. He’s an internationally recognized speaker who has made it his commitment to minister to parents struggling with addiction in their families. His powerfully insightful, faith based approach to the challenges of addiction have inspired and educated thousands across the country.
Contact Dave today to book him to speak at your church, parent’s group, business organization, or neighborhood association. Go to https://www.100pedals.com/speaker-dave-cooke/ for more information or email dave@100Pedals.com.
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